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 25 | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) | CHF 14 | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | CHF 14 | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | CHF 1.71 | |
| 12 eggs, large | CHF 8 | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 4.02 | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 12 | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 3.86 | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 3.00 | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 2.43 | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 16 | |
| 2 liters of Coca-Cola | CHF 2.52 | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.37 | |
| Housing | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in EXPENSIVE area | CHF 2,925 | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in NORMAL area | CHF 2,304 | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 185 | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in EXPENSIVE area | CHF 1,923 | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in NORMAL area | CHF 1,399 | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 Sqft) studio | CHF 154 | |
| Internet 8 Mbps (1 month) | CHF 45 | |
| 40” flat screen TV | CHF 558 | |
| Microwave 800/900 Watt (Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 169 | |
| 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 115 | |
| 1 summer dress in a High Street Store (Zara, H&M or similar retailers) | CHF 51 | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) | CHF 132 | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | CHF 187 | |
| Transportation | ||
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 150 CV (or equivalent), with no extras, new | CHF 27,608 | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.88 | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 88 | |
| Personal Care | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent brands) | CHF 15 | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | CHF 31 | |
| Short visit to private Doctor (15 minutes) | CHF 122 | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (Tampax, OB, ...) | CHF 6 | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | CHF 4.72 | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | CHF 4.62 | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | CHF 3.27 | |
| Tube of toothpaste | CHF 3.47 | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 45 | |
| Entertainment | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 71 | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | CHF 38 | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 132 | |
| Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | CHF 110 | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | CHF 17 | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | CHF 5.27 | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | CHF 7 | |
| iPad Wi-Fi 128GB | CHF 518 | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | CHF 0.34 | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | CHF 94 | |
| 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 | Zurich | 248 |
| 2nd | Geneva | 244 |
| 3rd | Basel | 230 |
| 4th | Lausanne | 219 |
| 5th | Lugano | 211 |
| 6th | Bern | 211 |
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 8% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Zurich is 153% more expensive than in Moscow
- Cost of living in Zurich is 80% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Geneva is 28% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Zurich is 61% more expensive than in Milan
- Cost of living in Zurich is 26% more expensive than in Sydney
- Cost of living in Basel is 9% cheaper than in Geneva
- Cost of living in Zurich is 35% more expensive than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Geneva is 9% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Zurich is 14% more expensive than in Bern
- Cost of living in Zurich is 140% more expensive than in Prague
- Cost of living in Zurich is 31% more expensive than in Amsterdam
- Cost of living in Zurich is 127% more expensive than in São Paulo
- Cost of living in Zurich is 89% more expensive than in Palma de Mallorca
- Cost of living in Basel is 104% more expensive than in São Paulo
- Cost of living in Zurich is 27% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Geneva is 71% more expensive than in Brussels
- Cost of living in Zurich is 82% more expensive than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Zurich is 127% more expensive than in Santiago
- Cost of living in Geneva is 16% more expensive than in Washington D.C.
Compare other countries
Recent Prices Added
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Lausanne costs CHF 3,000 (1 day ago)
- Men’s leather business shoes in Zurich costs CHF 120 (1 day ago)
- Sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) in Zurich costs CHF 120 (1 day ago)
- Summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) in Zurich costs CHF 50 (1 day ago)
- 1 month of gym membership in business district in Zurich costs CHF 120 (1 day ago)
- 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) in Zurich costs CHF 0.35 (1 day ago)
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Zurich costs CHF 7 (1 day ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Zurich costs CHF 6.00 (1 day ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Zurich costs CHF 120 (1 day ago)
- 1 ticket to the theater (best available seats) in Zurich costs CHF 520 (1 day ago)