Cost of living comparison
Switzerland is 35.5% more expensive than California.
- Restaurants
-
pay 60.6% more in Switzerland
- Groceries
-
pay 21.8% more in Switzerland
- Transportation
-
pay 69.6% more in Switzerland
- Housing
-
pay 20.0% less in Switzerland
- Childcare
-
pay 25.9% more in Switzerland
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 17.2% more in Switzerland
- Clothing
-
pay 73.7% more in Switzerland
The cost of clothing, transportation, restaurants, childcare, groceries, and entertainment and sports in Switzerland are more expensive than in California.
If you lived in Switzerland instead of California, you would:
pay 60.6% more for restaurants
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$21.02
|
$27.66
CHF25.14
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.52
|
$16.97
CHF15.42
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.71
|
$4.67
CHF4.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.16
|
$4.13
CHF3.75
|
|
pay 21.8% more for groceries
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.14
|
$3.64
CHF3.31
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.95
|
$13.22
CHF12.01
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.61
|
$7.31
CHF6.64
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.33
|
$6.80
CHF6.17
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.70
|
$12.89
CHF11.71
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.34
|
$1.52
CHF1.38
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.92
|
$1.03
CHF0.94
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.91
|
$1.31
CHF1.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.38
|
$2.85
CHF2.59
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.39
|
$1.12
CHF1.01
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.44
|
$1.07
CHF0.97
|
|
pay 69.6% more for transportation
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.83
|
$7.83
CHF7.12
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$62.05
|
$114.11
CHF103.69
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,005.28
|
$36,806.66
CHF33,443.89
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.07
|
$42.03
CHF38.19
|
|
pay 20.0% less for housing
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.54
|
$53.46
CHF48.57
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,371.29
|
$1,622.75
CHF1,474.49
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,055.18
|
$1,411.84
CHF1,282.85
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$171.68
|
$180.02
CHF163.57
|
|
pay 25.9% more for childcare
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,682.51
|
$2,587.05
CHF2,350.69
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$30,905.75
|
$30,321.56
CHF27,551.29
|
|
pay 17.2% more for entertainment and sports
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.00
|
$7.82
CHF7.11
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.34
|
$5.42
CHF4.92
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.91
|
$10.09
CHF9.17
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$66.35
|
$88.49
CHF80.40
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.41
|
$21.15
CHF19.22
|
|
pay 73.7% more for clothing
|
California
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$52.77
|
$121.70
CHF110.58
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.15
|
$61.65
CHF56.02
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.15
|
$136.06
CHF123.63
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$117.31
|
$176.75
CHF160.60
|
|
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