Cost of living in Switzerland
Summary of cost of living in Switzerland
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: CHF 6,193
- Single person estimated monthly costs: CHF 3,443
- Switzerland is the most expensive country in Western Europe (1 out of 18)
- Switzerland is the 2nd most expensive country in the World (2 out of 77)
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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 14 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | CHF 13 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | CHF 1.60 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | CHF 8 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 3.80 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 11 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 3.85 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 2.39 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 2.11 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 15 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | CHF 2.48 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.62 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | CHF 2,797 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | CHF 2,185 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 166 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | CHF 1,637 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | CHF 1,195 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | CHF 94 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | CHF 40 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | CHF 426 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 127 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | CHF 15 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | CHF 29 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | CHF 107 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | CHF 62 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | CHF 128 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | CHF 167 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | CHF 27,665 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.48 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 87 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | CHF 16 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | CHF 24 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | CHF 98 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | CHF 6 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | CHF 4.74 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | CHF 5.27 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | CHF 3.63 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | CHF 4.67 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 39 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 78 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | CHF 35 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 251 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | CHF 108 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | CHF 16 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | CHF 5.06 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | CHF 7 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | CHF 464 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | CHF 0.33 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | CHF 99 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | CHF 9 | ||
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 | Geneva | 247 |
| 2nd | Zurich | 237 |
| 3rd | Basel | 229 |
| 4th | Lausanne | 224 |
| 5th | Lugano | 214 |
| 6th | St. Gallen | 191 |
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 70% more expensive than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Zurich is 4% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Geneva is 29% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Zurich is 298% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in New York City
- Cost of living in Zurich is 7% more expensive than in San Francisco, California
- Cost of living in Bern is 216% more expensive than in Istanbul
- Cost of living in Lausanne is 17% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Zurich is 44% more expensive than in Munich
- Cost of living in Zurich is 69% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Basel is 65% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Bern is 60% more expensive than in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Cost of living in Zurich is 35% more expensive than in Stockholm
- Cost of living in Lausanne is 124% more expensive than in Prague
- Cost of living in Basel is 51% more expensive than in Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota
- Cost of living in Geneva is 199% more expensive than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Zurich is 66% more expensive than in Rome
- Cost of living in Geneva is 77% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in St. Gallen is 18% more expensive than in Munich
- Cost of living in Geneva is 153% more expensive than in Santiago
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- One-way ticket in public transport in Geneva costs CHF 3.50 (2 days ago)
- Hourly rate for domestic cleaning help in Geneva costs CHF 23 (2 days ago)
- Summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) in Geneva costs CHF 70 (2 days ago)
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Zurich costs CHF 5.00 (3 days ago)
- Hourly rate for domestic cleaning help in Geneva costs CHF 15 (4 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Lausanne costs CHF 2,200 (4 days ago)
- 1 liter of gasoline in Basel costs CHF 1.50 (4 days ago)
- Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new in Basel costs CHF 28,000 (4 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in expensive area in Basel costs CHF 1,200 (4 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Basel costs CHF 1,500 (4 days ago)