Cost of living in Switzerland
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:
| 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 13 | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | CHF 1.82 | |
| 12 eggs, large | CHF 7 | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 4.54 | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 12 | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 3.81 | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 2.87 | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 2.54 | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 16 | |
| 2 liters of Coca-Cola | CHF 2.58 | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.44 | |
| Housing | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in EXPENSIVE area | CHF 2,933 | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in NORMAL area | CHF 2,366 | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 168 | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in EXPENSIVE area | CHF 1,863 | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in NORMAL area | CHF 1,532 | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 Sqft) studio | CHF 127 | |
| Internet 8 Mbps (1 month) | CHF 46 | |
| 40” flat screen TV | CHF 585 | |
| Microwave 800/900 Watt (Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 174 | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | CHF 18 | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | CHF 29 | |
| Clothes | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (Levis 501 or similar) | CHF 114 | |
| 1 summer dress in a High Street Store (Zara, H&M or similar retailers) | CHF 55 | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) | CHF 123 | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | CHF 184 | |
| Transportation | ||
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 150 CV (or equivalent), with no extras, new | CHF 26,201 | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.72 | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 89 | |
| Personal Care | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent brands) | CHF 10 | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | CHF 32 | |
| Short visit to private Doctor (15 minutes) | CHF 118 | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (Tampax, OB, ...) | CHF 7 | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | CHF 5.03 | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | CHF 5.18 | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | CHF 3.33 | |
| Tube of toothpaste | CHF 3.60 | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 43 | |
| Entertainment | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 73 | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | CHF 37 | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 151 | |
| 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 17 | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | CHF 5.30 | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | CHF 7 | |
| iPad Wi-Fi 128GB | CHF 537 | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | CHF 0.34 | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | CHF 96 | |
| 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.
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 | 239 |
| 2nd | Zurich | 229 |
| 3rd | Basel | 211 |
| 4th | Lausanne | 206 |
| 5th | Bern | 203 |
| 6th | Lugano | 200 |
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 5% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Geneva is 11% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Geneva is 20% more expensive than in Hong Kong
- Cost of living in Zurich is 156% more expensive than in Santo Domingo
- Cost of living in Basel is 61% more expensive than in Strasbourg
- Cost of living in Zurich is 24% more expensive than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Zurich is 62% more expensive than in Berlin
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in San Francisco, California
- Cost of living in Zurich is 92% more expensive than in Athens
- Cost of living in Zurich is 169% more expensive than in Istanbul
- Cost of living in Geneva is 24% more expensive than in Sydney
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in New York City
- Cost of living in Geneva is 58% more expensive than in Abu Dhabi
- Cost of living in Zurich is 20% more expensive than in Dublin
- Cost of living in Zurich is 171% more expensive than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Geneva is 163% more expensive than in Budapest
- Cost of living in Geneva is 4% more expensive than in New York City
- Cost of living in Zurich is 24% more expensive than in Boston, Massachusetts
- Cost of living in Geneva is 184% more expensive than in Istanbul
- Cost of living in Lausanne is 114% more expensive than in São José dos Campos
Compare other countries
Recent Prices Added
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Zurich costs CHF 8 (about 13 hours ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Zurich costs CHF 100 (about 13 hours ago)
- 2 tickets to the movies in Zurich costs CHF 36 (about 13 hours ago)
- Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Zurich costs CHF 75 (about 13 hours ago)
- Hourly rate for babysitter services in Zurich costs CHF 25 (about 13 hours ago)
- Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city in Zurich costs CHF 45 (about 13 hours ago)
- Taxi, initial meter charge, weekday at noon in Zurich costs CHF 8 (about 13 hours ago)
- Internet connection 300 mbps, 1 month in Zurich costs CHF 60 (about 13 hours ago)
- Hourly rate for domestic cleaning help in Zurich costs CHF 35 (about 13 hours ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Zurich costs CHF 3,000 (about 13 hours ago)