Cost of living in Switzerland
Summary of cost of living in Switzerland
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: CHF 6,678
- Single person estimated monthly costs: CHF 4,027
- Switzerland is the most expensive country in Western Europe (1 out of 19)
- Switzerland is the 4th most expensive country in the World (4 out of 89)
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| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | CHF 26 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | CHF 15 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | CHF 12 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | CHF 1.67 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | CHF 7 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 3.84 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 12 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 3.53 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 2.20 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 1.94 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 15 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | CHF 2.74 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.76 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | CHF 3,513 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | CHF 2,645 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 115 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | CHF 1,992 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | CHF 1,557 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | CHF 44 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | CHF 49 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | CHF 474 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 124 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | CHF 7 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | CHF 33 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | CHF 106 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | CHF 50 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | CHF 113 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | CHF 186 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | CHF 30,010 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.91 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 80 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | CHF 17 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | CHF 17 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | CHF 120 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | CHF 4.54 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | CHF 3.84 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | CHF 3.48 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | CHF 2.28 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | CHF 2.54 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 48 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 68 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | CHF 39 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 95 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | CHF 115 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | CHF 16 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | CHF 4.96 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | CHF 7 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | CHF 656 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | CHF 0.22 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | CHF 87 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | CHF 9 | ||
Moving to Switzerland with your children?
International Schools in Switzerland
Map of Cost of Living in Switzerland
This map shows only the top cities in Switzerland. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in Switzerland
(top cities by data quality)
| Ranking | City | Price Index * |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Zurich | 242 |
| 2nd | Geneva | 238 |
| 3rd | Basel | 222 |
| 4th | Lausanne | 217 |
| 5th | Bern | 215 |
| 6th | Lugano | 211 |
| 7th | St. Gallen | 184 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to Switzerland? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in Switzerl. of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in London
- Cost of living in Geneva is 32% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Zurich is 87% more expensive than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Zurich is 92% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Bern is 17% more expensive than in George
- Cost of living in Geneva is about the same as in London
- Cost of living in Zurich is 160% more expensive than in Seville
- Cost of living in Geneva is 89% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Zurich is 88% more expensive than in Vienna
- Cost of living in Zurich is 64% more expensive than in Munich
- Cost of living in Zurich is 14% more expensive than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Zurich is 36% more expensive than in Melbourne
- Cost of living in Zurich is 6% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Basel is 314% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Zurich is 132% more expensive than in San Jose, Costa Rica
- Cost of living in Zurich is 30% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Zurich is 138% more expensive than in Santiago
- Cost of living in Zurich is 30% more expensive than in Amsterdam
- Cost of living in Geneva is 200% more expensive than in Puebla
- Cost of living in Basel is 104% more expensive than in Corunna
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- One-way ticket in public transport in Geneva costs CHF 3.00 (2 days ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Zurich costs CHF 6.00 (5 days ago)
- Cocktail drink in downtown club in Zurich costs CHF 16 (5 days ago)
- Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Zurich costs CHF 90 (5 days ago)
- 24 tablets box of cold medicine (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) in Zurich costs CHF 18 (5 days ago)
- 1 liter of gasoline in Zurich costs CHF 2.25 (5 days ago)
- Sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) in Zurich costs CHF 125 (5 days ago)
- Hourly rate for domestic cleaning help in Zurich costs CHF 35 (5 days ago)
- 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality in Zurich costs CHF 30 (5 days ago)
- 1 liter of whole fat milk in Zurich costs CHF 1.70 (5 days ago)