Cost of living in Switzerland
Summary of cost of living in Switzerland
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: $8,015 (CHF 6,995)
- Single person estimated monthly costs: $4,217 (CHF 3,680)
- Switzerland is the most expensive country in Western Europe (1 out of 16)
- Switzerland is the most expensive country in the World (1 out of 62)
Food | |||
---|---|---|---|
CHF | USD | ||
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | CHF 28 | ($32) | |
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | CHF 15 | ($18) | |
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | CHF 11 | ($13) | |
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | CHF 1.75 | ($2.00) | |
12 eggs, large | CHF 8 | ($9) | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | CHF 3.86 | ($4.43) | |
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | CHF 9 | ($10) | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | CHF 3.64 | ($4.17) | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | CHF 2.47 | ($2.83) | |
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | CHF 2.59 | ($2.97) | |
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | CHF 17 | ($20) | |
2 liters of coca-cola | CHF 3.27 | ($3.74) | |
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | CHF 2.46 | ($2.82) | |
Housing | |||
CHF | USD | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | CHF 2,898 | ($3,321) | |
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | CHF 2,272 | ($2,603) | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | CHF 364 | ($417) | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | CHF 1,869 | ($2,142) | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | CHF 1,326 | ($1,520) | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | CHF 108 | ($124) | |
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | CHF 51 | ($59) | |
40” flat screen tv | CHF 349 | ($400) | |
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | CHF 115 | ($132) | |
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | CHF 15 | ($17) | |
Hourly rate for cleaning help | CHF 30 | ($34) | |
Clothes | |||
CHF | USD | ||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | CHF 98 | ($113) | |
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | CHF 61 | ($70) | |
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | CHF 103 | ($118) | |
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | CHF 135 | ($155) | |
Transportation | |||
CHF | USD | ||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | CHF 31,584 | ($36,190) | |
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | CHF 1.86 | ($2.14) | |
Monthly ticket public transport | CHF 78 | ($90) | |
Personal Care | |||
CHF | USD | ||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | CHF 15 | ($17) | |
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | CHF 10 | ($11) | |
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | CHF 180 | ($206) | |
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | CHF 5.72 | ($7) | |
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | CHF 12 | ($14) | |
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | CHF 11 | ($13) | |
4 rolls of toilet paper | CHF 5.38 | ($6) | |
Tube of toothpaste | CHF 5.39 | ($6) | |
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | CHF 53 | ($61) | |
Entertainment | |||
CHF | USD | ||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | CHF 87 | ($100) | |
2 tickets to the movies | CHF 41 | ($47) | |
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | CHF 169 | ($194) | |
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | CHF 163 | ($187) | |
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | CHF 20 | ($23) | |
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | CHF 7 | ($9) | |
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | CHF 8 | ($9) | |
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | CHF 519 | ($595) | |
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | CHF 1.00 | ($1.15) | |
1 month of gym membership in business district | CHF 104 | ($119) | |
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | CHF 9 | ($10) |
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 | 229 |
2nd | Geneva | 225 |
3rd | Lausanne | 211 |
4th | Basel | 209 |
5th | Bern | 197 |
6th | Lugano | 192 |
7th | St. Gallen | 169 |
8th | Neuchatel | 169 |
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 Basel is 115% more expensive than in Alicante
- Cost of living in Zurich is 108% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Zurich is 105% more expensive than in Barcelona, Spain
- Cost of living in Zurich is about the same as in London
- Cost of living in Zurich is 60% more expensive than in Luxembourg
- Cost of living in Zurich is 14% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Zurich is 117% more expensive than in Sokoto
- Cost of living in Zurich is 145% more expensive than in Shanghai
- Cost of living in Zurich is 87% more expensive than in Vienna
- Cost of living in Zurich is 155% more expensive than in Zaragoza
- Cost of living in Zurich is 62% more expensive than in Munich
- Cost of living in Geneva is 104% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Zurich is 12% more expensive than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Zurich is 134% more expensive than in Panama City
- Cost of living in Zurich is 194% more expensive than in Lima
- Cost of living in Zurich is 526% more expensive than in Surat
- Cost of living in Zurich is 49% more expensive than in Little Rock, Arkansas
- Cost of living in Zurich is 34% more expensive than in Dublin
- Cost of living in Lausanne is about the same as in Basel
- Cost of living in Geneva is 209% more expensive than in Belo Horizonte
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 1 liter of gasoline in Geneva costs CHF 1.75 (4 days ago)