Cost of living in Switzerland
Summary of cost of living in Switzerland
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: CHF 7,114
- Single person estimated monthly costs: CHF 4,223
- Switzerland is the most expensive country in Western Europe (1 out of 18)
- Switzerland is the most expensive country in the World (1 out of 66)
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 16 | ||
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | CHF 11 | ||
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | CHF 1.81 | ||
12 eggs, large | CHF 8 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 4.50 | ||
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 10 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 4.33 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 2.27 | ||
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 2.33 | ||
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 13 | ||
2 liters of coca-cola | CHF 2.87 | ||
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.35 | ||
Housing | |||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | CHF 3,527 | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | CHF 2,866 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 205 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | CHF 2,179 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | CHF 1,557 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | CHF 94 | ||
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | CHF 53 | ||
40” flat screen tv | CHF 305 | ||
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 116 | ||
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | CHF 17 | ||
Hourly rate for cleaning help | CHF 30 | ||
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 64 | ||
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | CHF 118 | ||
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 36,492 | ||
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.84 | ||
Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 78 | ||
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 4.35 | ||
Tube of toothpaste | CHF 4.98 | ||
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 58 | ||
Entertainment | |||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 71 | ||
2 tickets to the movies | CHF 39 | ||
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 101 | ||
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | CHF 125 | ||
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | CHF 17 | ||
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 434 | ||
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 | 218 |
2nd | Geneva | 208 |
3rd | Basel | 199 |
4th | Lausanne | 199 |
5th | Lugano | 190 |
6th | Bern | 189 |
7th | St. Gallen | 162 |
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 103% more expensive than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Zurich is 6% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Geneva is 88% more expensive than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Geneva is 8% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Zurich is 97% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Basel is 200% more expensive than in Córdoba
- Cost of living in Lausanne is 161% more expensive than in Georgetown
- Cost of living in Zurich is 60% more expensive than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Lausanne is 74% more expensive than in Roanoke, Virginia
- Cost of living in Lugano is 79% more expensive than in Barcelona, Spain
- Cost of living in Zurich is 98% more expensive than in Hanover
- Cost of living in Zurich is 46% more expensive than in Perth
- Cost of living in Geneva is 60% more expensive than in Berlin
- Cost of living in Zurich is 229% more expensive than in Córdoba
- Cost of living in Zurich is 106% more expensive than in Barcelona, Spain
- Cost of living in Basel is 81% more expensive than in Hanover
- Cost of living in Geneva is 89% more expensive than in Hanover
- Cost of living in Zurich is 42% more expensive than in Oslo
- Cost of living in Zurich is 102% more expensive than in Toulouse
- Cost of living in Basel is 14% cheaper than in London