Cost of living in Switzerland
Summary of cost of living in Switzerland
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: CHF 7,159
- Single person estimated monthly costs: CHF 4,067
- Switzerland is the most expensive country in Western Europe (1 out of 17)
- Switzerland is the most expensive country in the World (1 out of 66)
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| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | CHF 28 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | CHF 15 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | CHF 9 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | CHF 1.74 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | CHF 8 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 3.96 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 9 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 3.80 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 2.47 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 2.16 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 15 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | CHF 3.07 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.44 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | CHF 3,360 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | CHF 2,670 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 308 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | CHF 2,001 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | CHF 1,493 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | CHF 102 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | CHF 51 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | CHF 326 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 110 | ||
| 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 106 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | CHF 61 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | CHF 119 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | CHF 172 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | CHF 34,919 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.99 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 77 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | CHF 10 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | CHF 10 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | CHF 154 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | CHF 5.00 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | CHF 4.35 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | CHF 7 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | CHF 4.88 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | CHF 4.43 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 52 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 78 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | CHF 39 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 101 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | CHF 125 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | CHF 16 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | CHF 5.42 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | CHF 7 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | CHF 434 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | CHF 1.00 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | CHF 85 | ||
| 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 | 224 |
| 2nd | Geneva | 219 |
| 3rd | Lausanne | 208 |
| 4th | Basel | 206 |
| 5th | Lugano | 196 |
| 6th | Bern | 194 |
| 7th | St. Gallen | 166 |
| 8th | Neuchatel | 166 |
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 13% more expensive than in Miami, Florida
- Cost of living in Lugano is 525% more expensive than in Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego
- Cost of living in Geneva is 117% more expensive than in Novara
- Cost of living in Lausanne is 12% more expensive than in Al Hasakah
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in Geneva
- Cost of living in Geneva is 729% more expensive than in San Martin de los Andes
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in London
- Cost of living in Lausanne is 104% more expensive than in Novara
- Cost of living in Zurich is 317% more expensive than in Santa Fe
- Cost of living in Zurich is 103% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Zurich is 12% more expensive than in Los Angeles, California
- Cost of living in Geneva is 81% more expensive than in Owerri
- Cost of living in Zurich is 726% more expensive than in San Martin de los Andes
- Cost of living in Basel is 153% more expensive than in Nawabshah
- Cost of living in Zurich is 8% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Zurich is 69% more expensive than in Berlin
- Cost of living in Basel is 111% more expensive than in Lobito
- Cost of living in Zurich is 86% more expensive than in Lyon
- Cost of living in Lausanne is 494% more expensive than in Neuquén
- Cost of living in Zurich is 459% more expensive than in Damascus
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) in Zurich costs CHF 17 (3 days ago)
- One-way ticket in public transport in Lugano costs CHF 2.60 (5 days ago)
- 1 liter of gasoline in Lugano costs CHF 2.05 (5 days ago)
- Laundry detergent, 3 liters in Lugano costs CHF 25 (5 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in expensive area in Lugano costs CHF 1,900 (5 days ago)
- Bread for 2 people for 1 day (250 g) in Lugano costs CHF 2.69 (5 days ago)
- 2 liters of coca-cola in Lugano costs CHF 2.09 (5 days ago)
- 12 eggs, large in Lugano costs CHF 4.99 (5 days ago)
- 1 liter of whole fat milk in Lugano costs CHF 1.85 (5 days ago)
- 500 g of boneless chicken breast in Lugano costs CHF 7 (5 days ago)