Cost of Living in Switzerland - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Switzerland
Address: CH

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,767 (excluding rent), and $3,759 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $4,500 (excluding rent), and $7,801 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.85 CHF 24.71

$22.21 CHF 17.79

$49.36 CHF 39.54

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$138 CHF 110

$100 CHF 80.1

$219 CHF 175

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.75 CHF 15.02

$18.12 CHF 14.52

$22.50 CHF 18.02

Cappuccino

$5.98 CHF 4.79

$3.64 CHF 2.92

$7.88 CHF 6.31

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

$5.49 CHF 4.40

$3.76 CHF 3.02

$6.27 CHF 5.02

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 CHF 3.96

$3.76 CHF 3.01

$6.26 CHF 5.02

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.69 CHF 6.96

$5.58 CHF 4.47

$11.18 CHF 8.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CHF 6.06

$6.30 CHF 5.05

$11.35 CHF 9.09

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 CHF 1.72

$1.56 CHF 1.25

$2.40 CHF 1.92

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 CHF 2.96

$1.46 CHF 1.17

$5.47 CHF 4.38

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 CHF 3.42

$2.32 CHF 1.86

$6.20 CHF 4.97

Eggs

$7.38 CHF 5.91

$4.29 CHF 3.44

$9.82 CHF 7.86

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.99 CHF 22.42

$19.65 CHF 15.74

$54.6 CHF 43.71

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.51 CHF 26.04

$14.54 CHF 11.65

$42.42 CHF 33.98

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$49.10 CHF 39.33

$31.35 CHF 25.11

$81.5 CHF 65.3

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 CHF 2.97

$2.45 CHF 1.96

$6.13 CHF 4.91

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 CHF 2.06

$1.64 CHF 1.32

$5.07 CHF 4.06

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 CHF 2.49

$1.90 CHF 1.52

$6.31 CHF 5.06

Tomato (1kg)

$6.24 CHF 5.00

$2.52 CHF 2.02

$9.97 CHF 7.99

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CHF 2.05

$1.37 CHF 1.10

$4.46 CHF 3.57

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 CHF 1.86

$1.81 CHF 1.45

$3.62 CHF 2.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CHF 2.09

$1.87 CHF 1.50

$3.73 CHF 2.99

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 CHF 1.15

$0.75 CHF 0.60

$2.50 CHF 2.01

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.01 CHF 8.82

$10.39 CHF 8.32

$12.23 CHF 9.79

Wine (Bottle)

$13.63 CHF 10.92

$9.87 CHF 7.91

$24.83 CHF 19.89

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 CHF 2.11

$1.25 CHF 1.00

$4.39 CHF 3.52

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 CHF 2.43

$1.32 CHF 1.06

$4.80 CHF 3.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.15 CHF 3.32

$3.42 CHF 2.74

$6.10 CHF 4.89

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.5 CHF 79.7

$84.6 CHF 67.8

$207 CHF 166

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 CHF 6.61

$6.34 CHF 5.08

$13.95 CHF 11.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.32 CHF 3.46

$3.32 CHF 2.66

$5.53 CHF 4.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.5 CHF 68.5

$55.4 CHF 44.36

$98.4 CHF 78.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.30 CHF 1.84

$2.20 CHF 1.76

$2.53 CHF 2.03

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

$40.6K CHF 32.5K

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

$41.6K CHF 33.3K

$36.7K CHF 29.4K

$48.9K CHF 39.2K

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

$270 CHF 217

$174 CHF 139

$434 CHF 348

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

$52.8 CHF 42.32

$25.12 CHF 20.12

$86.7 CHF 69.4

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 CHF 48.56

$49.98 CHF 40.04

$100 CHF 80.3

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.3 CHF 69.9

$59.8 CHF 47.91

$146 CHF 117

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.55 CHF 38.09

$31.01 CHF 24.84

$62.0 CHF 49.67

Cinema Ticket

$24.31 CHF 19.47

$20.17 CHF 16.16

$30.38 CHF 24.34

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

$3,063 CHF 2,453

$2,108 CHF 1,688

$3,844 CHF 3,079

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.7K CHF 27.8K

$24.5K CHF 19.6K

$48.9K CHF 39.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$135 CHF 108

$75.2 CHF 60.2

$188 CHF 151

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.5 CHF 52.5

$37.42 CHF 29.98

$112 CHF 89.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$148 CHF 118

$95.9 CHF 76.8

$237 CHF 190

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$188 CHF 151

$111 CHF 89.2

$309 CHF 248

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,984 CHF 1,589

$1,458 CHF 1,168

$3,038 CHF 2,434

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 CHF 1,355

$1,255 CHF 1,005

$2,509 CHF 2,010

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,648 CHF 2,922

$2,339 CHF 1,873

$6,155 CHF 4,930

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,976 CHF 2,383

$2,152 CHF 1,724

$4,427 CHF 3,546

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.0K CHF 15.2K

$12.3K CHF 9,860

$29.5K CHF 23.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.0K CHF 11.2K

$9,297 CHF 7,447

$21.9K CHF 17.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,335 CHF 5,875

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: January 17, 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	$1,941	$2,944	$4,325	$6,721	120.93	367.21
2	Acquarossa	1900	176	$1,868	$3,588	$4,033	$7,388	88.15	104.85
3	Affoltern am Albis	11363	180	$1,926	$3,650	$4,764	$7,389	105.6	359.6
4	Agno	4200	167	$1,848	$3,266	$3,763	$6,928	104.41	170.57
5	Aigle	10000	178	$1,778	$3,558	$4,418	$7,358	214.74	258.07
6	Airolo	1500	175	$1,657	$3,463	$3,937	$7,209	365.98	266.52
7	Altstätten	11145	175	$1,685	$3,553	$4,301	$7,138	242.98	224.57
8	Arbon	15853	170	$1,689	$3,331	$3,811	$7,124	41.49	340.66
9	Ascona	5500	166	$1,702	$3,303	$4,415	$6,958	34.57	299.77
10	Aubonne	3200	177	$1,681	$3,555	$4,010	$7,202	96.64	211.43
11	Baar	23557	175	$1,570	$3,471	$4,918	$7,344	116.76	394.81
12	Baden	19168	210	$2,467	$4,266	$5,931	$8,094	8.94	412.43
13	Basel	174491	184	$1,851	$3,634	$4,782	$7,889	215.88	378.06
14	Bellinzona	43785	193	$1,663	$3,888	$4,953	$7,848	131.89	367.72
15	Bern	128848	169	$1,714	$3,396	$4,311	$7,055	299.37	358.99
16	Biasca	6000	175	$1,689	$3,472	$3,430	$6,755	628.77	233.76
17	Biel	56378	156	$1,734	$3,063	$4,470	$6,508	24.82	406.37
18	Brissago	1800	179	$1,503	$3,554	$4,655	$7,121	62.07	165.12
19	Buchs	12187	167	$1,634	$3,287	$4,005	$6,576	14.4	223.56
20	Buochs	5500	173	$1,585	$3,508	$4,315	$7,140	130.1	218.43
21	Cham	17060	175	$1,565	$3,514	$4,185	$7,371	249.16	318
22	Chur	37082	156	$1,601	$3,150	$3,772	$7,188	37.5	292.49
23	Crans-Montana	-	169	$1,910	$3,423	$4,289	$6,688	109.16	170.37
24	Delemont	11809	148	$1,517	$3,001	$3,413	$6,103	40.3	357.77
25	Dietikon	27904	178	$1,697	$3,594	$4,515	$7,423	115.77	395.83
26	Dubendorf	26759	196	$1,969	$3,952	$5,069	$7,900	28.22	386.45
27	Embrach	9300	175	$1,944	$3,500	$4,245	$7,231	192.77	440.92
28	Frauenfeld	24864	154	$1,420	$3,053	$4,354	$6,892	23.89	320.53
29	Fribourg	37485	166	$1,650	$3,292	$4,199	$6,670	44.35	431.91
30	Geneva	191557	207	$1,856	$4,104	$4,680	$8,783	206.27	447.96
31	Giubiasco	8800	169	$1,656	$3,419	$4,610	$7,037	101.61	367.72
32	Glarus	12500	166	$1,544	$3,315	$4,434	$7,099	103.37	379.92
33	Glattfelden	5400	175	$2,022	$3,495	$4,320	$7,110	132.19	325.06
34	Hirschthal	1600	181	$1,744	$3,627	$4,947	$7,556	51.55	286.88
35	Interlaken	5600	175	$1,834	$3,500	$4,726	$7,079	32.68	193.12
36	Kreuzlingen	20846	171	$1,614	$3,453	$3,837	$7,086	159.6	339.74
37	Kriens	25932	178	$1,840	$3,596	$4,405	$7,263	49.29	397.46
38	La Chaux-de-Fonds	39027	156	$1,662	$3,093	$3,718	$6,977	47.98	366.12
39	Lachen	9000	161	$1,455	$3,178	$4,656	$6,921	149.16	304.56
40	Lancy	10919	175	$1,776	$3,454	$5,165	$7,113	167.55	445.23
41	Langenthal	15500	152	$1,941	$2,995	$3,960	$6,325	87.92	248.89
42	Lausanne	133521	178	$1,752	$3,547	$4,484	$7,663	214.67	413.37
43	Liestal	13807	172	$1,770	$3,475	$4,152	$7,232	40.12	287.23
44	Locarno	16000	139	$1,261	$2,788	$3,499	$6,177	39.32	291.54
45	Lucerne	81284	194	$1,882	$3,915	$4,692	$7,866	174.1	395.54
46	Lugano	63583	159	$1,698	$3,164	$4,689	$7,654	25.59	227.1
47	Martigny	14361	159	$1,731	$3,113	$3,640	$6,720	231.54	259.33
48	Meilen	13515	176	$1,797	$3,488	$5,142	$7,291	184.45	349.73
49	Mendrisio	15562	147	$1,490	$2,911	$3,960	$6,872	37.42	224.37
50	Montreux	26208	201	$1,589	$3,998	$4,784	$7,645	24.94	347.36

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.