Cost of Living Comparison Between Zurich and Geneva 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Geneva is 9.6% lower than in Zurich (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Geneva is 10.6% lower than in Zurich | |
| Rent Prices in Geneva are 12.6% lower than in Zurich | |
| Restaurant Prices in Geneva are 5.9% lower than in Zurich | |
| Groceries Prices in Geneva are 14.2% lower than in Zurich | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Geneva is 2.6% lower than in Zurich | |
Restaurants | Zurich Edit |
Geneva Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 28.00 Fr. | 26.50 Fr. | -5.4 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 120.00 Fr. | 110.00 Fr. | -8.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 15.00 Fr. | 15.00 Fr. | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 8.00 Fr. | 8.00 Fr. | 0.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 7.00 Fr. | 8.00 Fr. | +14.3 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.73 Fr. | 5.19 Fr. | -9.5 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 4.97 Fr. | 4.39 Fr. | -11.7 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 4.25 Fr. | 3.58 Fr. | -15.8 % |
Markets | Zurich Edit |
Geneva Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 1.76 Fr. | 1.88 Fr. | +6.6 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.05 Fr. | 2.24 Fr. | -26.5 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 1.38 Fr. | 1.22 Fr. | -11.4 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 6.71 Fr. | 6.13 Fr. | -8.7 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 10.58 Fr. | 9.26 Fr. | -12.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 9.60 Fr. | 10.85 Fr. | +13.0 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 23.13 Fr. | 16.48 Fr. | -28.7 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 1.53 Fr. | 1.31 Fr. | -14.6 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 1.08 Fr. | 0.66 Fr. | -39.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 1.29 Fr. | 1.01 Fr. | -21.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 1.80 Fr. | 1.79 Fr. | -0.6 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.01 Fr. | 0.60 Fr. | -40.8 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 0.88 Fr. | 0.78 Fr. | -11.9 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 2.17 Fr. | 1.75 Fr. | -19.3 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 1.02 Fr. | 1.36 Fr. | +32.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 11.00 Fr. | 10.00 Fr. | -9.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 2.26 Fr. | 2.60 Fr. | +14.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.61 Fr. | 2.84 Fr. | +9.0 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 9.10 Fr. | 9.00 Fr. | -1.1 % |
Transportation | Zurich Edit |
Geneva Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 4.60 Fr. | 3.00 Fr. | -34.8 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 87.00 Fr. | 70.00 Fr. | -19.5 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 6.75 Fr. | 6.21 Fr. | -8.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 6.12 Fr. | 5.15 Fr. | -15.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 73.80 Fr. | 52.50 Fr. | -28.9 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.87 Fr. | 1.83 Fr. | -1.8 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 31,000.00 Fr. | 35,500.00 Fr. | +14.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 32,766.67 Fr. | 32,500.00 Fr. | -0.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Zurich Edit |
Geneva Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 230.34 Fr. | 235.71 Fr. | +2.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 31.13 Fr. | 32.83 Fr. | +5.5 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 47.62 Fr. | 45.92 Fr. | -3.6 % |
Sports And Leisure | Zurich Edit |
Geneva Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 71.74 Fr. | 63.78 Fr. | -11.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 50.70 Fr. | 37.33 Fr. | -26.4 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 20.00 Fr. | 20.00 Fr. | 0.0 % |
Childcare | Zurich Edit |
Geneva Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 2,927.31 Fr. | 2,170.77 Fr. | -25.8 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 34,110.00 Fr. | 29,660.67 Fr. | -13.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Zurich Edit |
Geneva Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 109.19 Fr. | 113.21 Fr. | +3.7 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 47.85 Fr. | 70.45 Fr. | +47.2 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 128.93 Fr. | 136.87 Fr. | +6.2 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 179.00 Fr. | 170.54 Fr. | -4.7 % |
Rent Per Month | Zurich Edit |
Geneva Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,421.00 Fr. | 2,270.00 Fr. | -6.2 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,945.00 Fr. | 1,751.82 Fr. | -9.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 5,046.67 Fr. | 4,016.00 Fr. | -20.4 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 3,190.00 Fr. | 2,971.11 Fr. | -6.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Zurich Edit |
Geneva Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,998.56 Fr. | 1,695.73 Fr. | -15.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 1,227.47 Fr. | 1,219.23 Fr. | -0.7 % |
Salaries And Financing | Zurich Edit |
Geneva Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 6,796.75 Fr. | 5,914.40 Fr. | -13.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 1.93 | 1.98 | +2.6 % |
| Last update: | 14 June 2026 | 4 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 184 | 75 | |
Moving to Zurich? Explore:
Moving to Geneva? Explore:
Cities near Zurich: | Cost of Living in Winterthur | 16.58 miles |
| Cost of Living in Baar | 20.75 miles |
| Cost of Living in Zug | 21.32 miles |
| Cost of Living in Frauenfeld | 28.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lucerne | 32.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kriens | 33.20 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hergiswil | 37.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Langenthal | 48.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Basel | 53.46 miles |
| Cost of Living in St. Gallen | 53.49 miles |
Cities near Geneva: | Cost of Living in Lancy | 1.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Nyon | 16.68 miles |
| Cost of Living in Aubonne | 26.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lausanne | 39.37 miles |
| Cost of Living in Montreux | 57.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fribourg | 84.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in La Chaux-de-Fonds | 88.34 miles |
| Cost of Living in Biel | 96.14 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bern | 98.39 miles |
| Cost of Living in Thun | 117.37 miles |