Cost of living in Switzerland
Summary of cost of living in Switzerland
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: CHF 6,542
- Single person estimated monthly costs: CHF 3,650
- 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 71)
Change the currency:
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | CHF 27 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | CHF 15 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | CHF 12 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | CHF 1.63 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | CHF 8 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 3.55 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 10 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 3.58 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 2.68 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 2.77 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 16 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | CHF 3.12 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.72 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | CHF 2,863 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | CHF 2,274 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 216 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | CHF 1,993 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | CHF 1,246 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | CHF 302 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | CHF 43 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | CHF 494 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 121 | ||
| 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 123 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | CHF 68 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | CHF 139 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | CHF 234 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | CHF 29,281 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.70 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 89 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | CHF 17 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | CHF 24 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | CHF 137 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | CHF 5.58 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | CHF 5.25 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | CHF 5.32 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | CHF 3.61 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | CHF 3.83 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 53 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 76 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | CHF 37 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 177 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | CHF 115 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | CHF 18 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | CHF 5.46 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | CHF 7 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | CHF 504 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | CHF 0.41 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | CHF 126 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | CHF 8 | ||
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 | 260 |
| 2nd | Geneva | 241 |
| 3rd | Basel | 226 |
| 4th | Lausanne | 220 |
| 5th | Lugano | 199 |
| 6th | St. Gallen | 187 |
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 105% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Zurich is 10% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Geneva is 93% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Zurich is 87% more expensive than in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Cost of living in Zurich is 100% more expensive than in Reggio nell'Emilia
- Cost of living in Zurich is 332% more expensive than in João Pessoa
- Cost of living in Zurich is 27% more expensive than in Dublin
- Cost of living in Zurich is 32% more expensive than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Geneva is 138% more expensive than in Seville
- Cost of living in Geneva is about the same as in London
- Cost of living in Zurich is 308% more expensive than in Córdoba
- Cost of living in Zurich is 97% more expensive than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Lausanne is 53% more expensive than in Edmonton
- Cost of living in Zurich is 8% more expensive than in New York City
- Cost of living in Zurich is 10% more expensive than in Hong Kong
- Cost of living in Zurich is 17% more expensive than in Lausanne
- Cost of living in Zurich is 64% more expensive than in Munich
- Cost of living in Zurich is 37% more expensive than in Tel Aviv
- Cost of living in Zurich is 114% more expensive than in Lisbon
- Cost of living in Zurich is 36% more expensive than in Paris
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Furnished accommodation in normal area, monthly rent - 85 m2 in Geneva costs CHF 3,485 (1 day ago)
- Utilities, monthly for 2 people in 85 m2 in Basel costs CHF 400 (2 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in expensive area in Bern costs CHF 2,000 (2 days ago)
- Hourly rate for babysitter services in Geneva costs CHF 24 (9 days ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Bern costs CHF 150 (10 days ago)
- One-way ticket in public transport in Bern costs CHF 4.60 (10 days ago)
- Public transport in Bern costs CHF 79 (10 days ago)
- 1 liter of gasoline in Bern costs CHF 1.77 (10 days ago)