Cost of Living in Olten - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Olten
Address: Olten, CH

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,670 (excluding rent), and $2,888 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $3,447 (excluding rent), and $5,995 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.27 CHF 23.64

$20.50 CHF 16.01

$48.44 CHF 37.83

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$106 CHF 82.5

$99.4 CHF 77.7

$249 CHF 194

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.95 CHF 13.24

$15.74 CHF 12.30

$24.21 CHF 18.91

Cappuccino

$5.67 CHF 4.43

$4.41 CHF 3.44

$8.82 CHF 6.89

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.20 CHF 4.06

$4.29 CHF 3.35

$6.75 CHF 5.27

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 CHF 3.43

$2.39 CHF 1.86

$6.58 CHF 5.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.25 CHF 5.66

$5.05 CHF 3.94

$11.36 CHF 8.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.23 CHF 4.86

$11.21 CHF 8.76

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 CHF 1.64

$1.52 CHF 1.19

$2.53 CHF 1.97

White Bread (500g)

$3.30 CHF 2.58

$1.46 CHF 1.14

$6.09 CHF 4.75

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.15 CHF 3.24

$1.91 CHF 1.49

$6.28 CHF 4.91

Eggs

$7.29 CHF 5.70

$4.39 CHF 3.43

$12.21 CHF 9.54

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.66 CHF 16.92

$12.26 CHF 9.58

$57.6 CHF 45.01

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.12 CHF 20.40

$14.92 CHF 11.65

$43.53 CHF 34.00

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$39.12 CHF 30.55

$31.54 CHF 24.63

$72.8 CHF 56.8

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 CHF 3.14

$2.41 CHF 1.88

$6.03 CHF 4.71

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 1.95

$1.62 CHF 1.27

$4.99 CHF 3.90

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 CHF 2.27

$1.81 CHF 1.42

$6.04 CHF 4.72

Tomato (1kg)

$5.17 CHF 4.04

$2.36 CHF 1.85

$9.82 CHF 7.67

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 CHF 2.03

$1.44 CHF 1.13

$4.81 CHF 3.76

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 CHF 1.86

$1.90 CHF 1.48

$3.80 CHF 2.96

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 CHF 1.94

$1.46 CHF 1.14

$3.65 CHF 2.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CHF 1.13

$0.72 CHF 0.56

$2.40 CHF 1.87

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.99 CHF 8.59

$10.01 CHF 7.82

$12.36 CHF 9.65

Wine (Bottle)

$15.45 CHF 12.07

$11.59 CHF 9.05

$32.20 CHF 25.15

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 CHF 1.65

$1.86 CHF 1.46

$4.34 CHF 3.39

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 CHF 1.89

$1.94 CHF 1.51

$4.84 CHF 3.78

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.84 CHF 3.00

$3.21 CHF 2.51

$4.96 CHF 3.88

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.8 CHF 75.6

$61.1 CHF 47.74

$103 CHF 80.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.58 CHF 5.92

$4.85 CHF 3.79

$12.12 CHF 9.47

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.27 CHF 3.34

$2.92 CHF 2.28

$5.62 CHF 4.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$62.2 CHF 48.59

$44.05 CHF 34.40

$99.5 CHF 77.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 CHF 1.72

$2.08 CHF 1.62

$2.39 CHF 1.87

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$41.0K CHF 32.0K

$50.0K CHF 39.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.4K CHF 30.8K

$35.6K CHF 27.8K

$49.1K CHF 38.4K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$258 CHF 202

$187 CHF 146

$454 CHF 355

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.27 CHF 25.98

$20.56 CHF 16.06

$60.5 CHF 47.24

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 CHF 45.56

$46.53 CHF 36.34

$85.7 CHF 66.9

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.0 CHF 48.43

$35.33 CHF 27.59

$83.1 CHF 64.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.23 CHF 14.24

Cinema Ticket

$24.24 CHF 18.93

$18.18 CHF 14.20

$48.47 CHF 37.86

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,366 CHF 2,629

$3,043 CHF 2,376

$3,961 CHF 3,094

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.6K CHF 30.2K

$18.2K CHF 14.2K

$54.5K CHF 42.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 CHF 110

$37.45 CHF 29.25

$187 CHF 146

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.6 CHF 48.91

$37.64 CHF 29.40

$100 CHF 78.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$150 CHF 117

$99.8 CHF 78.0

$187 CHF 146

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$201 CHF 157

$123 CHF 96.0

$307 CHF 240

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 CHF 961

$1,107 CHF 864

$1,353 CHF 1,057

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,068 CHF 834

$986 CHF 770

$1,109 CHF 866

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,005 CHF 1,566

$1,754 CHF 1,370

$2,255 CHF 1,761

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,736 CHF 1,356

$1,612 CHF 1,259

$1,984 CHF 1,549

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,380 CHF 3,420

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

1.41

3.6

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: March 1, 2026

Olten Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🇪🇺 Europe

Cost of Living in Olten - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Olten, Switzerland offers a balanced base for travelers and remote workers seeking Swiss reliability without the heft of a larger city. The town tends to be more moderate than Zurich or Geneva, with a range of apartment sizes and a straightforward daily rhythm. You’ll find dependable groceries, efficient public transit, and a walkable center lined with cafés and coworking spaces. Seasonal day trips to Basel, Lucerne, or the Alps are easy to plan from here, and the housing scene often prioritizes value over extravagance, especially outside the Old Town core. Tip: pick a central, quieter street to balance access and costs while keeping the town’s charm within reach.

Daily life in Olten is grounded in practicality. Olten, Switzerland living cost is easy to gauge for a town of this size: rents for smaller flats typically align with mid-range expectations, groceries cover a broad range, and transit keeps you moving without surprise spikes. You’ll find a mix of supermarkets, seasonal farmers markets, and casual eateries that cover quick lunches and dinners. Getting around is straightforward by rail or bus, and many coworking spaces cluster near the station, with quieter riverside apartments offering peaceful workdays. When errands pile up, the town center provides a compact set of shops, pharmacies, and postal services. Tip: build a weekly budget around transit passes and weekend market runs.

In Olten, choosing a neighborhood comes down to vibe and access: central Old Town for walkable life, riverfront areas for quieter evenings, and rail-adjacent districts for easy commutes. Use a simple budgeting framework: split costs into housing, utilities, groceries, and transport, then plan with a monthly buffer for seasonal changes like heating in winter or travel in holidays. Seasonality affects dining options and market availability, so align grocery purchases with local produce. For longer stays, engage with local property managers early and use official rental portals to understand deposits and contracts. Tip: test a few neighborhoods with long strolls at different times of day to feel the pace and noise levels.