Cost of living comparison
California is 16.9% cheaper than Switzerland overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 36.4% less in California
- Groceries
-
pay 2.8% less in California
- Transportation
-
pay 38.7% less in California
- Housing
-
pay 28.8% more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 16.6% less in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 12.2% less in California
- Clothing
-
pay 40.6% less in California
Expenses including clothing, transportation, restaurants, childcare, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in California.
If you lived in California instead of Switzerland, you would:
pay 36.4% less for restaurants
|
Switzerland
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$27.66
CHF24.45
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$16.97
CHF15.00
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$4.67
CHF4.13
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$4.13
CHF3.65
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 2.8% less for groceries
|
Switzerland
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.64
CHF3.22
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$13.22
CHF11.69
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.31
CHF6.46
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$6.80
CHF6.01
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$12.89
CHF11.39
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.52
CHF1.34
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.03
CHF0.91
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.31
CHF1.16
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.85
CHF2.52
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.12
CHF0.99
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.07
CHF0.94
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 38.7% less for transportation
|
Switzerland
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.83
CHF6.93
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$114.11
CHF100.87
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,806.66
CHF32,535.94
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$42.03
CHF37.16
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 28.8% more for housing
|
Switzerland
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.46
CHF47.25
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,622.75
CHF1,434.46
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,411.84
CHF1,248.02
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$180.02
CHF159.13
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 16.6% less for childcare
|
Switzerland
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,587.05
CHF2,286.87
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$30,321.56
CHF26,803.32
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 12.2% less for entertainment and sports
|
Switzerland
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.82
CHF6.92
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.42
CHF4.79
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.09
CHF8.92
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$88.49
CHF78.22
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$21.15
CHF18.69
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 40.6% less for clothing
|
Switzerland
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$121.70
CHF107.58
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$61.65
CHF54.50
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$136.06
CHF120.27
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$176.75
CHF156.24
|
$117.31
|
|
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