Cost of living comparison
Switzerland is 87.0% more expensive than Canada overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.1 times more in Switzerland
- Groceries
-
pay 47.5% more in Switzerland
- Transportation
-
pay 90.2% more in Switzerland
- Housing
-
pay 25.9% more in Switzerland
- Childcare
-
pay 3.0 times more in Switzerland
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 55.8% more in Switzerland
- Clothing
-
pay 79.3% more in Switzerland
The cost of childcare, restaurants, transportation, clothing, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Switzerland are more expensive than in Canada. Notably, childcare, restaurants, and transportation are significantly more expensive in Switzerland.
If you lived in Switzerland instead of Canada, you would:
pay 2.1 times more for restaurants
|
Canada
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.37
CA$22.83
|
$27.66
CHF23.01
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.01
CA$13.96
|
$16.97
CHF14.11
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.00
CA$2.78
|
$4.67
CHF3.89
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.62
CA$2.25
|
$4.13
CHF3.43
|
|
pay 47.5% more for groceries
|
Canada
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.48
CA$3.46
|
$3.64
CHF3.03
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.30
CA$7.39
|
$13.22
CHF10.99
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$8.04
CA$11.20
|
$7.31
CHF6.08
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.39
CA$4.73
|
$6.80
CHF5.65
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.12
CA$7.14
|
$12.89
CHF10.72
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CA$2.50
|
$1.52
CHF1.26
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.64
CA$0.89
|
$1.03
CHF0.86
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.60
CA$2.22
|
$1.31
CHF1.09
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.74
CA$2.43
|
$2.85
CHF2.37
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
CA$1.61
|
$1.12
CHF0.93
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.14
CA$1.59
|
$1.07
CHF0.89
|
|
pay 90.2% more for transportation
|
Canada
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.35
CA$6.06
|
$7.83
CHF6.52
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.88
CA$91.85
|
$114.11
CHF94.90
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$24,555.94
CA$34,237.12
|
$36,806.66
CHF30,609.52
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.33
CA$22.77
|
$42.03
CHF34.96
|
|
pay 25.9% more for housing
|
Canada
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$60.95
CA$84.98
|
$53.46
CHF44.46
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,220.42
CA$1,701.56
|
$1,622.75
CHF1,349.53
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,114.36
CA$1,553.69
|
$1,411.84
CHF1,174.13
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.39
CA$160.88
|
$180.02
CHF149.71
|
|
pay 3.0 times more for childcare
|
Canada
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$729.99
CA$1,017.79
|
$2,587.05
CHF2,151.47
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$12,017.58
CA$16,755.51
|
$30,321.56
CHF25,216.32
|
|
pay 55.8% more for entertainment and sports
|
Canada
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.20
CA$7.25
|
$7.82
CHF6.51
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.58
CA$4.99
|
$5.42
CHF4.51
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.91
CA$18.00
|
$10.09
CHF8.39
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$42.97
CA$59.91
|
$88.49
CHF73.59
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.95
CA$15.27
|
$21.15
CHF17.59
|
|
pay 79.3% more for clothing
|
Canada
|
Switzerland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.89
CA$75.13
|
$121.70
CHF101.21
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.01
CA$54.39
|
$61.65
CHF51.27
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$84.94
CA$118.42
|
$136.06
CHF113.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$102.12
CA$142.37
|
$176.75
CHF146.99
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Switzerland or Canada. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.