Cost of Living in Switzerland - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Switzerland
Address: CH

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,783 (excluding rent), and $3,644 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $4,531 (excluding rent), and $7,677 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.98 CHF 24.07

$22.30 CHF 17.33

$49.57 CHF 38.52

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$133 CHF 103

$96.6 CHF 75.1

$211 CHF 164

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.78 CHF 14.59

$18.15 CHF 14.10

$22.53 CHF 17.50

Cappuccino

$6.18 CHF 4.80

$3.77 CHF 2.93

$8.14 CHF 6.33

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

$5.53 CHF 4.30

$3.79 CHF 2.94

$6.31 CHF 4.90

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 CHF 3.71

$3.63 CHF 2.82

$6.05 CHF 4.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.44 CHF 6.56

$5.42 CHF 4.21

$10.86 CHF 8.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.42 CHF 5.76

$6.18 CHF 4.80

$11.13 CHF 8.65

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 CHF 1.67

$1.56 CHF 1.21

$2.40 CHF 1.86

White Bread (500g)

$3.77 CHF 2.93

$1.49 CHF 1.16

$5.58 CHF 4.33

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 CHF 3.32

$2.32 CHF 1.80

$6.20 CHF 4.82

Eggs

$7.47 CHF 5.80

$4.34 CHF 3.38

$9.94 CHF 7.72

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.32 CHF 22.01

$19.88 CHF 15.44

$55.2 CHF 42.90

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.54 CHF 25.28

$14.55 CHF 11.31

$42.45 CHF 32.98

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$48.89 CHF 37.99

$31.22 CHF 24.26

$81.2 CHF 63.1

Apples (1kg)

$3.83 CHF 2.98

$2.53 CHF 1.96

$6.33 CHF 4.92

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 CHF 1.96

$1.61 CHF 1.25

$4.97 CHF 3.86

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 CHF 2.33

$1.83 CHF 1.42

$6.08 CHF 4.72

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 CHF 4.68

$2.43 CHF 1.89

$9.63 CHF 7.48

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 CHF 2.02

$1.39 CHF 1.08

$4.52 CHF 3.51

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 CHF 1.79

$1.80 CHF 1.40

$3.60 CHF 2.79

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 CHF 1.95

$1.80 CHF 1.40

$3.59 CHF 2.79

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 CHF 1.07

$0.72 CHF 0.56

$2.40 CHF 1.86

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.06 CHF 8.59

$10.44 CHF 8.11

$12.29 CHF 9.55

Wine (Bottle)

$13.98 CHF 10.86

$10.17 CHF 7.90

$25.42 CHF 19.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 CHF 1.96

$1.20 CHF 0.93

$4.20 CHF 3.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 CHF 2.38

$1.34 CHF 1.04

$4.84 CHF 3.76

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.21 CHF 3.27

$3.47 CHF 2.69

$6.19 CHF 4.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 CHF 77.9

$85.2 CHF 66.2

$209 CHF 162

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 CHF 6.07

$6.01 CHF 4.67

$13.22 CHF 10.27

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.25 CHF 3.30

$3.27 CHF 2.54

$5.44 CHF 4.23

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.5 CHF 66.5

$55.4 CHF 43.03

$98.4 CHF 76.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.74

$2.15 CHF 1.67

$2.47 CHF 1.92

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

$40.3K CHF 31.3K

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

$42.6K CHF 33.1K

$37.6K CHF 29.2K

$50.2K CHF 39.0K

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

$268 CHF 209

$172 CHF 134

$431 CHF 335

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

$52.3 CHF 40.61

$24.85 CHF 19.31

$85.7 CHF 66.6

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.7 CHF 45.62

$48.41 CHF 37.61

$97.1 CHF 75.4

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.1 CHF 67.7

$59.7 CHF 46.38

$146 CHF 114

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.06 CHF 36.57

$30.69 CHF 23.85

$61.4 CHF 47.69

Cinema Ticket

$24.99 CHF 19.42

$20.74 CHF 16.12

$31.24 CHF 24.28

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

$3,079 CHF 2,392

$2,119 CHF 1,646

$3,864 CHF 3,002

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.9K CHF 27.1K

$24.6K CHF 19.1K

$49.2K CHF 38.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$133 CHF 103

$73.7 CHF 57.3

$184 CHF 143

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.3 CHF 49.93

$36.70 CHF 28.52

$110 CHF 85.5

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$150 CHF 116

$97.5 CHF 75.7

$241 CHF 187

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$189 CHF 147

$112 CHF 86.8

$310 CHF 241

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 CHF 1,551

$1,468 CHF 1,140

$3,058 CHF 2,376

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,666 CHF 1,294

$1,235 CHF 960

$2,470 CHF 1,919

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,663 CHF 2,846

$2,348 CHF 1,825

$6,179 CHF 4,801

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,037 CHF 2,360

$2,197 CHF 1,707

$4,519 CHF 3,511

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.4K CHF 15.0K

$12.6K CHF 9,761

$30.1K CHF 23.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.8K CHF 10.7K

$9,204 CHF 7,152

$21.7K CHF 16.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,476 CHF 5,809

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.44

1.6

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

Last update: February 1, 2026

By City in Switzerland

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Aarau	21191	150	$1,472	$3,043	$4,043	$6,696	120.93	367.21
2	Acquarossa	1900	176	$1,826	$3,468	$4,673	$7,182	88.15	104.85
3	Affoltern am Albis	11363	180	$1,960	$3,659	$4,764	$7,449	105.6	359.6
4	Agno	4200	167	$1,649	$3,337	$4,629	$6,823	104.41	170.57
5	Aigle	10000	178	$1,679	$3,525	$4,015	$7,349	214.74	258.07
6	Airolo	1500	175	$2,004	$3,511	$3,861	$7,077	365.98	266.52
7	Altstätten	11145	175	$1,614	$3,420	$4,699	$7,234	242.98	224.57
8	Arbon	15853	170	$1,615	$3,439	$4,062	$6,948	41.49	340.66
9	Ascona	5500	166	$1,431	$3,255	$4,452	$6,714	34.57	299.77
10	Aubonne	3200	177	$1,587	$3,551	$4,066	$7,134	96.64	211.43
11	Baar	23557	175	$1,826	$3,503	$4,075	$7,392	116.76	394.81
12	Baden	19168	210	$2,420	$4,137	$4,918	$8,045	8.94	412.43
13	Basel	174491	184	$1,879	$3,625	$4,752	$7,849	215.88	378.06
14	Bellinzona	43785	193	$1,815	$3,892	$4,405	$7,891	131.89	367.72
15	Bern	128848	169	$1,736	$3,372	$4,222	$7,139	299.37	358.99
16	Biasca	6000	175	$1,602	$3,544	$4,037	$6,666	628.77	233.76
17	Biel	56378	156	$1,888	$3,122	$4,193	$6,407	24.82	406.37
18	Brissago	1800	179	$1,948	$3,510	$4,789	$7,050	62.07	165.12
19	Buchs	12187	167	$1,610	$3,309	$4,012	$6,578	14.4	223.56
20	Buochs	5500	173	$1,503	$3,488	$4,947	$7,065	130.1	218.43
21	Cham	17060	175	$1,628	$3,439	$4,068	$7,218	249.16	318
22	Chur	37082	156	$1,869	$3,151	$4,434	$6,983	37.5	292.49
23	Crans-Montana	-	169	$1,588	$3,318	$4,448	$6,866	109.16	170.37
24	Delemont	11809	148	$1,528	$2,992	$2,975	$6,167	40.3	357.77
25	Dietikon	27904	178	$1,806	$3,504	$4,115	$7,370	115.77	395.83
26	Dubendorf	26759	196	$1,670	$3,969	$4,187	$7,739	28.22	386.45
27	Embrach	9300	175	$1,687	$3,530	$4,607	$7,206	192.77	440.92
28	Frauenfeld	24864	154	$1,585	$3,091	$4,278	$6,864	23.89	320.53
29	Fribourg	37485	166	$1,706	$3,313	$4,245	$6,712	44.35	431.91
30	Geneva	191557	207	$1,840	$4,094	$4,808	$9,028	206.27	447.96
31	Giubiasco	8800	169	$1,843	$3,402	$4,908	$7,273	101.61	367.72
32	Glarus	12500	166	$1,930	$3,293	$4,472	$7,222	103.37	379.92
33	Glattfelden	5400	175	$1,694	$3,521	$3,914	$7,341	132.19	325.06
34	Hirschthal	1600	181	$2,096	$3,592	$4,923	$7,652	51.55	286.88
35	Interlaken	5600	175	$2,021	$3,512	$4,464	$7,120	32.68	193.12
36	Kreuzlingen	20846	171	$1,513	$3,343	$4,075	$7,076	159.6	339.74
37	Kriens	25932	178	$1,985	$3,571	$4,126	$7,312	49.29	397.46
38	La Chaux-de-Fonds	39027	156	$1,962	$3,133	$4,490	$6,940	47.98	366.12
39	Lachen	9000	161	$1,470	$3,220	$4,121	$6,762	149.16	304.56
40	Lancy	10919	175	$1,887	$3,535	$5,084	$7,128	167.55	445.23
41	Langenthal	15500	152	$1,649	$2,969	$4,965	$6,373	87.92	248.89
42	Lausanne	133521	178	$1,731	$3,504	$4,578	$7,664	214.67	413.37
43	Liestal	13807	172	$1,884	$3,421	$4,064	$7,215	40.12	287.23
44	Locarno	16000	139	$1,354	$2,791	$3,652	$6,214	39.32	291.54
45	Lucerne	81284	194	$1,832	$3,894	$4,720	$7,937	174.1	395.54
46	Lugano	63583	159	$1,691	$3,177	$4,787	$7,627	25.59	227.1
47	Martigny	14361	159	$1,734	$3,217	$3,826	$6,751	231.54	259.33
48	Meilen	13515	176	$1,990	$3,470	$4,421	$7,383	184.45	349.73
49	Mendrisio	15562	147	$1,664	$2,985	$4,479	$6,758	37.42	224.37
50	Montreux	26208	201	$1,693	$3,976	$4,698	$7,413	24.94	347.36

Switzerland Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

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

Cost of Living in Switzerland - Frequently Asked Questions

Switzerland is widely regarded as expensive, especially in Zurich and Geneva, but many find a high value in what the country delivers: superb services, safety, efficient infrastructure, and consistently clean, reliable systems. The upside shows up when you choose smaller towns or lake-side suburbs, negotiate longer-term housing, cook at home, and use public transport rather than owning a car. With careful planning, you can align lifestyle decisions with the realities of local prices. Cost of Living in Switzerland reflects these trade-offs and helps you decide where and how you base yourself. Tip: Start with a realistic monthly plan that prioritizes housing and transit access.

Daily life hinges on smart choices. Housing often comes via longer leases and deposits, with neighborhoods close to transit offering the best balance of price and convenience. Food options range from farmer's markets to reliable supermarkets; cooking at home stretches meals further. Transport is first-rate: trains, trams, and buses connect most places with regular schedules, and a resident pass can simplify fares. Co-working spaces abound in larger towns and digital nomads find quiet corners in libraries and cafes. Errands move smoothly when you set up local services early. Switzerland living cost varies by city, but planning makes it manageable. Tip: Build a simple weekly routine that matches your work and errands.

Quality of life here shines through safety, healthcare access, and a multilingual, international vibe in major towns. A practical budgeting framework helps you stay on track: separate essentials (housing, food, transport) from discretionary spending, and revisit it as seasons and plans change. Seasonality shows in outdoor access, clothing needs, and heating or cooling habits, so your routine shifts with the weather. Neighborhood fit matters: historic cores, lake-adjacent districts, or suburban belts each offer a different pace, cost profile, and community. Test a few areas, lean on rental agents, and sample local amenities before committing. Tip: Prioritize a base with transit access and gradually expand social and work locations to maintain flexibility.