Travel budget in Switzerland

Switzerland: calculate your travel budget

Switzerland: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Switzerland for 2 people.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 126 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 33 per person
  • $ 19 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 3173* (2548 CHF)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 185 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 76 per person
  • $ 43 per person
  • $ 26 per person

Total budget:

$ 6591* (5292 CHF)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 249 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 131 per person
  • $ 87 per person
  • $ 51 per person

Total budget:

$ 10958* (8806 CHF)

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).



Cost of living in Switzerland in 2023

Cost of living: Switzerland VS United States

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in Switzerland in 2023 is 58% higher than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Switzerland by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Switzerland compared to the national average.

Cities /Switzerland View Details
Zurich 11% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Zurich
Davos 8% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Davos
Zug 2% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Zug
Winterthur 2% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Winterthur
Lausanne 1% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Lausanne
Chur 1% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Chur
Lucerne 2% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Lucerne
Geneva 3% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Geneva
Basel 6% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Basel
Fribourg 6% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Fribourg
Lugano 8% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Lugano
Bern 10% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Bern

Show all cities (17 more)




Local prices in Switzerland by expense type

Switzerland: Restaurant budget

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Switzerland is 54% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 33/person
($ 21 to $ 51)

41% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 70/person
($ 51 to $ 126)

65% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 20/person
($ 18 to $ 23)

70% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12
Local beer
Local beer
$ 8.7 for 500ml
($ 5.6 to $ 12)

32% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.7
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 3.1 for 330ml
($ 1.3 to $ 5)

17% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 6.1/cup
($ 3.8 to $ 8.7)

14% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 5.3/can
($ 3.8 to $ 6.2)

100% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 4.8/bottle
($ 3.8 to $ 6.2)

127% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Switzerland: Hotel and accommodation budget

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Switzerland is 24% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 133/night
($ 119 to $ 152)

6% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 162/night
($ 110 to $ 271)

8% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 150
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 208/night
($ 141 to $ 392)

2% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 290/night
($ 188 to $ 527)

9% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 321
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 631/night
($ 408 to $ 1027)

8% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 690
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 150/month
($ 124 to $ 185)

10% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 137
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 363/month
($ 173 to $ 820)

70% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 343/month
($ 157 to $ 776)

75% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 196
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 204/month
($ 136 to $ 331)

24% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 269
Family room
Family room
$ 431/month
($ 242 to $ 907)

114% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 202

Switzerland: Supermarket food budget

On average, the price of supermarket food in Switzerland is 19% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 2.2/litre
($ 1.6 to $ 2.5)

84% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1
Bread
Bread
$ 3.9/500g
($ 1.9 to $ 5.6)

1% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4
Rice
Rice
$ 3.7/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 5.6)

28% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Eggs
Eggs
$ 7.6/12 eggs
($ 3.8 to $ 10.6)

58% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8
Chicken
Chicken
$ 32/kg
($ 16 to $ 46)

126% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Apples
Apples
$ 4.7/kg
($ 2.5 to $ 6.2)

21% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 5.1/kg
($ 2.5 to $ 7.5)

0% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 3/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.9)

11% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.4
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 1.6
($ 0.6 to $ 2.5)

35% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4

Switzerland: Public and private transport budget

On average, the price of transport in Switzerland is 87% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 4.5/ticket
($ 3.5 to $ 7.5)

62% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 4.9/km
($ 3.8 to $ 6.2)

163% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9
Petrol
Petrol
$ 2.4/litre
($ 2.2 to $ 2.7)

117% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 8.4
($ 6.9 to $ 13)

116% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9
Car hire
Car hire
$ 28/24hrs
($ 14 to $ 95)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 36

Switzerland: Leisure activity budget

On average, budget for leisure activities in Switzerland is 96% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 26/ticket
($ 21 to $ 33)

76% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15
Tennis
Tennis
$ 48/hr
($ 33 to $ 64)

116% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

Switzerland: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

On average, shopping budget in Switzerland is 66% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 12/pack
($ 10.3 to $ 13)

13% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 138
($ 64 to $ 189)

138% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 58
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 69
($ 39 to $ 125)

46% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 47

Plane ticket budget

New York City → Zurich
New York City → Zurich
New York City → Zurich
$ 904
(fair price: $ 702)
New York City → Geneva
New York City → Geneva
New York City → Geneva
$ 879
(fair price: $ 690)
Los Angeles → Zurich
Los Angeles  → Zurich
Los Angeles  → Zurich
$ 1083
(fair price: $ 875)
London → Geneva
London → Geneva
London → Geneva
$ 115
(fair price: $ 79)
London → Zurich
London → Zurich
London → Zurich
$ 130
(fair price: $ 102)
Manchester → Geneva
Manchester → Geneva
Manchester → Geneva
$ 126
(fair price: $ 101)


About the information on the cost of living in Switzerland

The information about the cost of living in Switzerland shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Easyvoyage and Hotels.com.

Information about cost of living in Switzerland updated on 16-09-2023.

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