Cost of living comparison
Switzerland is 30.9% more expensive than California.
If you lived in Switzerland instead of California, you would:
pay 53.0% more for restaurants
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$19.89
|
$25.29
CHF21.86
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.74
|
$16.39
CHF14.17
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.75
|
$4.49
CHF3.88
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.23
|
$4.05
CHF3.50
|
|
pay 17.5% more for groceries
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.10
|
$3.46
CHF2.99
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.78
|
$12.71
CHF10.99
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.57
|
$6.96
CHF6.01
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.34
|
$6.50
CHF5.62
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.53
|
$12.35
CHF10.68
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.29
|
$1.53
CHF1.32
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.95
|
$1.04
CHF0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.95
|
$1.26
CHF1.09
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.23
|
$2.51
CHF2.17
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.49
|
$1.07
CHF0.92
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.45
|
$1.03
CHF0.89
|
|
pay 60.7% more for transportation
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.84
|
$7.75
CHF6.70
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$67.11
|
$108.37
CHF93.66
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$29,950.13
|
$35,253.06
CHF30,468.69
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.46
|
$41.64
CHF35.99
|
|
pay 23.6% less for housing
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$69.38
|
$52.30
CHF45.21
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,333.22
|
$1,574.30
CHF1,360.64
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,022.14
|
$1,317.64
CHF1,138.81
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$178.08
|
$173.73
CHF150.15
|
|
pay 28.4% more for childcare
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,629.83
|
$2,462.28
CHF2,128.11
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$29,739.09
|
$31,407.01
CHF27,144.61
|
|
pay 12.2% more for entertainment and sports
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.06
|
$7.36
CHF6.36
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.27
|
$5.23
CHF4.52
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.99
|
$9.76
CHF8.44
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$68.71
|
$84.81
CHF73.30
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.08
|
$20.50
CHF17.72
|
|
pay 68.1% more for clothing
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$52.63
|
$120.31
CHF103.99
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.12
|
$60.46
CHF52.25
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$84.49
|
$130.36
CHF112.67
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$115.90
|
$165.15
CHF142.74
|
|
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