Switzerland : Cost of Living by City
Cost of Living in Switzerland
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Geneva?
The cost of living in Switzerland is notoriously high, but its idyllic lifestyle, economic stability and high quality of living still attract numerous foreigners to come and try starting a new life there.
All the benefits that Geneva has to offer come at a price and you should be prepared to earn a lot, but at the same time, spend much more than in your home country.
Nevertheless, this is the advantage many foreigners working in Geneva find particularly appealing.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Geneva
RESTAURANTS
Geneva is acknowledged as a culinary paradise which has something for everyone’s taste, but at the same time, limits the alcohol consumption due to its expensiveness.
The high prices are causing the lower number of visits to restaurants, as the average family cannot afford frequently treating themselves to a restaurant meal.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $23.89 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $6.97 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $3.21 |
MARKETS
Shopping at large supermarkets is always advisable as they offer discounted goods.
Your monthly supermarket bills cannot be predicted as they might vary widely depending on the members of your family and their eating habits.
However, have in mind that the food in Geneva has the highest prices in the country.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $6.49 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $2.86 |
| Eggs (12) | $5.10 |
TRANSPORTATION
Living in one of the major Swiss cities includes a lot of commuting and a very few places will be at the walkable distance.
So, you can expect to spend some money on transportation each month.
Driving is the least affordable option, but getting a travel pass which is valid on trams, trains, buses and ships is an excellent way of saving some money.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $2.99 |
| Monthly Pass | $69.68 |
| Gasoline | $6.37 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities are charged additionally and they include water, power, garbage and heating costs.
When added to the monthly rent, it turns out that the housing costs for a family of 3 or more people exceed $4000.
The Internet access is also pretty expensive, around $70 per month.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $187.43 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.38 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $68.29 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
The average amount of money that a person would spend on entertainment cannot be determined as it highly depends on person’s preference.
People who enjoy sport activities would need to pay much more to entertain themselves, than those who like watching movies at the cinema.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $95.96 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $23.29 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $19.91 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Geneva is an expensive city, and this is reflected in the price of clothing items here.
It is true that you can find the finest designer apparel coming from all over the world, but the prices would not be affordable, thus causing that only 2% of monthly salary is spend on this.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $112.98 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $61.54 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $124.33 |
RENT PER MONTH
Average apartment rental prices in Geneva are among the highest in the country.
It might be considered unreasonably high to pay almost $2000 for one bedroom apartment in the city center, but that is the usual price of rent here.
For the larger family, it would be necessary to devote more than $3600 to this.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1928.12 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $1552.50 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $3629.51 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Geneva?
You should get an insight into the cost of living in Geneva, in areas such as accommodation, food, transportation and entertainment, in order to be able to plan your own budget and organize your spending accordingly.
Non essential things – clothing and entertainment – are not as important as food and rent, so the least money is spend on them.
The greatest expense for both newcomers and Geneva’s citizens is definitely the rent, which in combination with food, takes two thirds of the whole monthly income.
Average Costs Breakdown
Geneva: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Few people own their own property in Switzerland, even though the mortgage interest rates are quite low, around 1.72%.
The renting prices are so high, but you might still have difficulties in finding a decent rental accommodation.
If you will find yourself in a situation of being able to negotiate your income with you employer, make sure to ask for a salary high enough to cover all these extremely high expenses in Geneva.
Everything below the average would cause you struggle.
Geneva Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Geneva Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | LOW |
| SCAMS RISK | MEDIUM |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Switzerland
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Basel |
126.89 |
| Bern |
118.42 |
| Lausanne |
119.62 |
| Lugano |
111.88 |
| Zurich |
128.65 |
What do you think is the most surprising aspect of adjusting to life in Geneva for newcomers, especially when it comes to managing the high costs?