Cost of living in Switzerland
Summary of cost of living in Switzerland
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: CHF 6,179
- Single person estimated monthly costs: CHF 3,416
- 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 75)
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| 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 12 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | CHF 1.54 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | CHF 8 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 3.60 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 11 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 3.84 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 2.35 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 1.96 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 15 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | CHF 2.40 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.60 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | CHF 2,790 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | CHF 2,135 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 157 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | CHF 1,589 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | CHF 1,203 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | CHF 89 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | CHF 41 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | CHF 465 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 120 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | CHF 17 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | CHF 29 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | CHF 110 | ||
| 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 127 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | CHF 176 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | CHF 27,830 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.48 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 83 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | CHF 17 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | CHF 54 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | CHF 92 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | CHF 5.70 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | CHF 4.51 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | CHF 5.58 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | CHF 3.46 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | CHF 4.46 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 37 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 76 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | CHF 35 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 222 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | CHF 109 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | CHF 16 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | CHF 5.09 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | CHF 7 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | CHF 455 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | CHF 0.37 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | CHF 102 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | CHF 9 | ||
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 | Geneva | 251 |
| 2nd | Zurich | 240 |
| 3rd | Basel | 234 |
| 4th | Lausanne | 228 |
| 5th | Lugano | 218 |
| 6th | St. Gallen | 195 |
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 69% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Zurich is 58% more expensive than in Milan
- Cost of living in Zurich is 302% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Geneva is 321% more expensive than in Delhi
- Cost of living in St. Gallen is 83% more expensive than in Bangkok
- Cost of living in Geneva is 29% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Zurich is 6% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Geneva is 11% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Zurich is 209% more expensive than in São Paulo
- Cost of living in Lausanne is 49% more expensive than in Edinburgh
- Cost of living in Zurich is 68% more expensive than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Zurich is 315% more expensive than in Bauru
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in New York City
- Cost of living in Zurich is 23% more expensive than in Paris
- Cost of living in Zurich is 26% more expensive than in Amsterdam
- Cost of living in Zurich is 34% more expensive than in Miami, Florida
- Cost of living in Geneva is 61% more expensive than in Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota
- Cost of living in Zurich is 244% more expensive than in Florianopolis
- Cost of living in Zurich is 65% more expensive than in Vienna
- Cost of living in Geneva is 417% more expensive than in Mar del Plata
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Lausanne costs CHF 8 (3 days ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Lausanne costs CHF 4.50 (3 days ago)
- 1 liter of gasoline in Lausanne costs CHF 1.60 (3 days ago)
- Jeans (levis 501 or similar) in Lausanne costs CHF 110 (3 days ago)
- Hourly rate for domestic cleaning help in Lausanne costs CHF 28 (3 days ago)
- Internet 8 mbps, 1 month in Lausanne costs CHF 45 (3 days ago)
- Utilities, monthly for 2 people in 85 m2 in Lausanne costs CHF 200 (3 days ago)
- Furnished accommodation in normal area, monthly rent - 85 m2 in Lausanne costs CHF 1,700 (3 days ago)
- Bread for 2 people for 1 day (250 g) in Lausanne costs CHF 4.10 (3 days ago)
- 2 liters of coca-cola in Lausanne costs CHF 2.50 (3 days ago)