Cost of living in Switzerland
Summary of cost of living in Switzerland
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: CHF 7,315
- Single person estimated monthly costs: CHF 4,338
- 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 69)
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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 16 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | CHF 12 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | CHF 1.73 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | CHF 8 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 4.49 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 11 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 4.28 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 2.43 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 2.14 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 13 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | CHF 2.75 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.66 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | CHF 3,746 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | CHF 2,813 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 231 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | CHF 2,181 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | CHF 1,591 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | CHF 125 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | CHF 55 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | CHF 472 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 110 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | CHF 20 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | CHF 31 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | CHF 111 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | CHF 63 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | CHF 121 | ||
| 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 37,102 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.86 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 79 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | CHF 13 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | CHF 26 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | CHF 211 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | CHF 5.94 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | CHF 4.15 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | CHF 7 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | CHF 3.09 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | CHF 3.81 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 53 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 79 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | CHF 38 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 139 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | CHF 126 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | CHF 18 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | CHF 5.21 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | CHF 7 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | CHF 702 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | CHF 0.33 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | CHF 88 | ||
| 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 | 207 |
| 2nd | Geneva | 201 |
| 3rd | Basel | 188 |
| 4th | Lausanne | 187 |
| 5th | Lugano | 181 |
| 6th | Bern | 178 |
| 7th | St. Gallen | 153 |
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 89% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in Miami, Florida
- Cost of living in Zurich is 8% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Geneva is 11% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Zurich is 94% more expensive than in Barcelona, Spain
- Cost of living in Zurich is 301% more expensive than in Burgas
- Cost of living in Zurich is 57% more expensive than in Munich
- Cost of living in Zurich is 5% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Lausanne is 80% more expensive than in Barcelona, Spain
- Cost of living in Zurich is 36% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Geneva is 16% more expensive than in Washington D.C.
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in Geneva
- Cost of living in Zurich is 49% more expensive than in Luxembourg
- Cost of living in Geneva is 92% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Zurich is 85% more expensive than in Seoul
- Cost of living in Zurich is 63% more expensive than in Stockholm
- Cost of living in Zurich is 24% more expensive than in Dublin
- Cost of living in Geneva is 40% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Zurich is 198% more expensive than in Bucharest
- Cost of living in Zurich is 41% more expensive than in Amsterdam
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Lausanne costs CHF 7 (about 19 hours ago)
- Cocktail drink in downtown club in Lausanne costs CHF 16 (about 19 hours ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Lausanne costs CHF 120 (about 19 hours ago)
- 1 ticket to the theater (best available seats) in Lausanne costs CHF 80 (about 19 hours ago)
- 1 ticket to the movies in Lausanne costs CHF 44 (about 19 hours ago)
- Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Lausanne costs CHF 100 (about 19 hours ago)
- 75 ml tube of toothpaste in Lausanne costs CHF 4.25 (about 19 hours ago)
- 250 ml hair shampoo 2-in-1 in Lausanne costs CHF 8 (about 19 hours ago)
- 40ml deodorant, roll-on in Lausanne costs CHF 3.00 (about 19 hours ago)
- Short visit to private doctor in Lausanne costs CHF 150 (about 19 hours ago)