Cost of living in Switzerland
Summary of cost of living in Switzerland
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: CHF 6,197
- Single person estimated monthly costs: CHF 3,430
- 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 95)
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| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | CHF 25 | ||
| 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 1.60 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | CHF 8 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 4.48 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 11 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 4.18 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 2.64 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 1.97 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 16 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | CHF 2.90 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.35 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | CHF 2,833 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | CHF 2,110 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 214 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | CHF 1,618 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | CHF 1,199 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | CHF 132 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | CHF 39 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | CHF 670 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 121 | ||
| 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 107 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | CHF 59 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | CHF 126 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | CHF 178 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | CHF 25,335 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.62 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 71 | ||
| 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 6 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | CHF 4.41 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | CHF 4.30 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | CHF 3.84 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | CHF 3.41 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 35 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 69 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | CHF 36 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 129 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | CHF 116 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | CHF 17 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | CHF 4.92 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | CHF 7 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | CHF 530 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | CHF 0.37 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | CHF 100 | ||
| 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 | Zurich | 244 |
| 2nd | Geneva | 244 |
| 3rd | Basel | 230 |
| 4th | Lausanne | 224 |
| 5th | Bern | 218 |
| 6th | Lugano | 213 |
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 Geneva is 20% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Zurich is 28% more expensive than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Zurich is 190% more expensive than in Belgrade
- Cost of living in Zurich is 5% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in New York City
- Cost of living in Zurich is 43% more expensive than in Luxembourg
- Cost of living in Zurich is 205% more expensive than in Sofia
- Cost of living in Zurich is 42% more expensive than in Vancouver
- Cost of living in Zurich is 78% more expensive than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Zurich is 85% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Zurich is 32% more expensive than in Tel Aviv
- Cost of living in Zurich is 227% more expensive than in Veracruz
- Cost of living in Zurich is 65% more expensive than in Milan
- Cost of living in Zurich is 116% more expensive than in Catania
- Cost of living in Zurich is 11% more expensive than in Oslo
- Cost of living in Zurich is 352% more expensive than in Barquisimeto
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in San Francisco, California
- Cost of living in Zurich is 51% more expensive than in Munich
- Cost of living in Zurich is 177% more expensive than in Lima
- Cost of living in Zurich is 76% more expensive than in Taipei
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Basel costs CHF 5.00 (4 days ago)
- Cocktail drink in downtown club in Basel costs CHF 25 (4 days ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Basel costs CHF 180 (4 days ago)
- 2 tickets to the movies in Basel costs CHF 40 (4 days ago)
- Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Basel costs CHF 100 (4 days ago)
- Hourly rate for babysitter services in Basel costs CHF 25 (4 days ago)
- Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city in Basel costs CHF 40 (4 days ago)
- 75 ml tube of toothpaste in Basel costs CHF 5.00 (4 days ago)
- 4 rolls of toilet paper in Basel costs CHF 4.00 (4 days ago)
- 12 doses box of antibiotics in Basel costs CHF 90 (4 days ago)