Travel budget and cost of living in Switzerland how much does a trip cost?

Are you planning to go to Switzerland and need to budget for your trip? On this page you can see sample prices. This enables you to get to grips with actual prices and the cost of living in Switzerland. Then, why not use our free tool to calculate your Switzerland travel budget.

Travel budget in Switzerland

Switzerland: calculate your travel budget

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Flight: departure/arrival

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:

Explore each type of expense in detail:

Restaurant Hotel

Food Transport

Leisure activities Shopping

Plane ticket

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% more	Travel budget and cost of living in Zurich
Davos	8% more	Travel budget and cost of living in Davos
Zug	2% more	Travel budget and cost of living in Zug
Winterthur	2% more	Travel budget and cost of living in Winterthur
Lausanne	1% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Lausanne
Chur	1% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Chur
Interlaken	1% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Interlaken
Lucerne	2% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Lucerne
Geneva	3% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Geneva
Neuchatel	5% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Neuchatel
Basel	6% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Basel
Thun	6% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Thun
Fribourg	6% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Fribourg
Sion	7% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Sion
Vevey	7% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Vevey
Frauenfeld	7% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Frauenfeld
Glarus	8% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Glarus
Nyon	8% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Nyon
Lugano	8% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Lugano
Langenthal	8% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Langenthal
Locarno	8% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Locarno
Schaffhausen	8% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Schaffhausen
Wil	9% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Wil
Bern	10% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Bern
Arbon	10% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Arbon
Montreux	10% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Montreux
Buchs	11% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Buchs
Olten	13% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Olten
Rapperswil	17% less	Travel budget and cost of living in Rapperswil

Show all cities (17 more)

Switzerland: get the best price!

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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

$ 33/person
($ 21 to $ 51)

41% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

3 course dinner

$ 70/person
($ 51 to $ 126)

65% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42

McDonald's meal

$ 20/person
($ 18 to $ 23)

70% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 8.7 for 500ml
($ 5.6 to $ 12)

32% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.7

Imported beer

$ 3.1 for 330ml
($ 1.3 to $ 5)

17% less than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Cappuccino

$ 6.1/cup
($ 3.8 to $ 8.7)

14% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4

Fizzy drink

$ 5.3/can
($ 3.8 to $ 6.2)

100% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 4.8/bottle
($ 3.8 to $ 6.2)

127% more than in the United States (USA)

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

$ 133/night
($ 119 to $ 152)

6% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

2-star hotel

$ 162/night
($ 110 to $ 271)

8% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 150

3-star hotel

$ 208/night
($ 141 to $ 392)

2% less than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214

4-star hotel

$ 290/night
($ 188 to $ 527)

9% less than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 321

5-star hotel

$ 631/night
($ 408 to $ 1027)

8% less than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 690

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 150/month
($ 124 to $ 185)

10% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 137

Room with kitchen

$ 363/month
($ 173 to $ 820)

70% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 343/month
($ 157 to $ 776)

75% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 196

Cottage or guest house

$ 204/month
($ 136 to $ 331)

24% less than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 269

Family room

$ 431/month
($ 242 to $ 907)

114% more than in the United States (USA)

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

$ 2.2/litre
($ 1.6 to $ 2.5)

84% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 3.9/500g
($ 1.9 to $ 5.6)

1% less than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Rice

$ 3.7/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 5.6)

28% less than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Eggs

$ 7.6/12 eggs
($ 3.8 to $ 10.6)

58% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8

Chicken

$ 32/kg
($ 16 to $ 46)

126% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Apples

$ 4.7/kg
($ 2.5 to $ 6.2)

21% less than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9

Tomatoes

$ 5.1/kg
($ 2.5 to $ 7.5)

0% less than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Potatoes

$ 3/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.9)

11% less than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.4

Water bottle

$ 1.6
($ 0.6 to $ 2.5)

35% less than in the United States (USA)

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

$ 4.5/ticket
($ 3.5 to $ 7.5)

62% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8

Taxi (per km)

$ 4.9/km
($ 3.8 to $ 6.2)

163% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 2.4/litre
($ 2.2 to $ 2.7)

117% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 8.4
($ 6.9 to $ 13)

116% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Car hire

$ 28/24hrs
($ 14 to $ 95)

23% less than in the United States (USA)

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

$ 26/ticket
($ 21 to $ 33)

76% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 48/hr
($ 33 to $ 64)

116% more than in the United States (USA)

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

$ 12/pack
($ 10.3 to $ 13)

13% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10

Levi's jeans

$ 138
($ 64 to $ 189)

138% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 58

Summer dress

$ 69
($ 39 to $ 125)

46% more than in the United States (USA)

Average price in the United States (USA): $ 47

Plane ticket budget

New York City → Zurich

$ 904
(fair price: $ 702)

New York City → Geneva

$ 879
(fair price: $ 690)

Los Angeles → Zurich

$ 1083
(fair price: $ 875)

London → Geneva

$ 115
(fair price: $ 79)

London → Zurich

$ 130
(fair price: $ 102)

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.

Travel budget and cost of living in Switzerland how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in Switzerland

Switzerland: calculate your travel budget

Switzerland: sample budgets by traveller type

Low budget (backpacker)

Average budget (traveller)

High budget (tourist)

Cost of living in Switzerland in 2023

Cost of living: Switzerland VS United States

Compare with the average cost of living in:

Explore each type of expense in detail:

Cost of living in Switzerland by city

Local prices in Switzerland by expense type

Switzerland: Restaurant budget

Switzerland: Hotel and accommodation budget

Switzerland: Supermarket food budget

Switzerland: Public and private transport budget

Switzerland: Leisure activity budget

Switzerland: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Plane ticket budget

About the information on the cost of living in Switzerland

Low budget
(backpacker)

Average budget
(traveller)

High budget
(tourist)