Cost of living in Switzerland
Summary of cost of living in Switzerland
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: CHF 6,350
- Single person estimated monthly costs: CHF 3,565
- Switzerland is the most expensive country in Western Europe (1 out of 19)
- Switzerland is the 3rd most expensive country in the World (3 out of 90)
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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 12 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | CHF 1.62 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | CHF 8 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 4.31 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 12 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 3.71 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 2.65 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 1.87 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 15 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | CHF 2.62 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.39 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | CHF 3,037 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | CHF 2,137 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 201 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | CHF 1,760 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | CHF 1,340 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | CHF 128 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | CHF 49 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | CHF 650 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 130 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | CHF 18 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | CHF 31 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | CHF 108 | ||
| 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 139 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | CHF 190 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | CHF 27,559 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.65 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 76 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | CHF 18 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | CHF 45 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | CHF 113 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | CHF 5.20 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | CHF 4.25 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | CHF 4.62 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | CHF 3.79 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | CHF 3.53 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 35 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 75 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | CHF 37 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 114 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | CHF 114 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | CHF 17 | ||
| 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 494 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | CHF 0.37 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | CHF 90 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | CHF 8 | ||
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 | 271 |
| 2nd | Zurich | 269 |
| 3rd | Basel | 255 |
| 4th | Lausanne | 245 |
| 5th | Bern | 238 |
| 6th | Lugano | 236 |
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 86% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Geneva is 87% more expensive than in Glasgow
- Cost of living in Zurich is 15% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Geneva is 20% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Geneva is 26% more expensive than in Copenhagen
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in Geneva
- Cost of living in Zurich is 75% more expensive than in Berlin
- Cost of living in Zurich is 54% more expensive than in Munich
- Cost of living in Zurich is 5% more expensive than in San Francisco, California
- Cost of living in Zurich is 70% more expensive than in Macao
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in New York City
- Cost of living in Sion is 50% more expensive than in San Jose, Costa Rica
- Cost of living in Zurich is 80% more expensive than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Zurich is 46% more expensive than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Zurich is 110% more expensive than in Athens
- Cost of living in Geneva is 34% more expensive than in Amsterdam
- Cost of living in Geneva is about the same as in New York City
- Cost of living in Bern is 59% more expensive than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Zurich is 63% more expensive than in Hamburg
- Cost of living in Zurich is 147% more expensive than in Prague
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) in Geneva costs CHF 160 (5 days ago)
- Internet 8 mbps, 1 month in Geneva costs CHF 60 (5 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in normal area in Geneva costs CHF 1,300 (5 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in expensive area in Geneva costs CHF 1,600 (5 days ago)
- Furnished accommodation in normal area, monthly rent - 85 m2 in Geneva costs CHF 2,400 (5 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Geneva costs CHF 3,000 (5 days ago)
- Bread for 2 people for 1 day (250 g) in Geneva costs CHF 3.60 (5 days ago)
- 2 liters of coca-cola in Geneva costs CHF 2.50 (5 days ago)
- 1 kg of potatoes in Geneva costs CHF 2.80 (5 days ago)
- 1 kg of apples in Geneva costs CHF 4.00 (5 days ago)