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
Switzerland: sample budgets by traveller type
These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Switzerland for 2 people.
Low budget
(backpacker)
Daily budget:
- $ 98 for 2 ppl.
- $ 28 per person
- $ 16 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 2551* (2338 CHF)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 156 for 2 ppl.
- $ 63 per person
- $ 36 per person
- $ 22 per person
Total budget:
$ 5549* (5096 CHF)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 205 for 2 ppl.
- $ 107 per person
- $ 74 per person
- $ 44 per person
Total budget:
$ 9138* (8372 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 2021
Cost of living: Switzerland VS United States
On average, the cost of living in Switzerland in 2021 is 76% 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:
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Zug | 15% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Zug |
| Geneva | 9% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Geneva |
| Zurich | 9% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Zurich |
| Basel | 7% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Basel |
| Lucerne | 4% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Lucerne |
| Winterthur | 4% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Winterthur |
| Davos | 3% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Davos |
| Bern | 0% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Bern |
| Lausanne | 1% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Lausanne |
Local prices in Switzerland by expense type
Switzerland: Restaurant budget
On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Switzerland is 80% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
$ 28/person
($ 17 to $ 45)
($ 17 to $ 45)
85% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 153 course dinner
$ 55/person
($ 42 to $ 83)
($ 42 to $ 83)
83% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 30McDonald's meal
$ 16/person
($ 15 to $ 17)
($ 15 to $ 17)
100% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.9Local beer
$ 7.6 for 500ml
($ 5.5 to $ 9.8)
($ 5.5 to $ 9.8)
55% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9Imported beer
$ 2.5 for 330ml
($ 1.1 to $ 3.8)
($ 1.1 to $ 3.8)
10% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8Cappuccino
$ 5/cup
($ 3.2 to $ 6.6)
($ 3.2 to $ 6.6)
20% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.2Fizzy drink
$ 4.4/can
($ 3.2 to $ 5.5)
($ 3.2 to $ 5.5)
138% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9Water bottle
$ 4.1/bottle
($ 3.2 to $ 5.5)
($ 3.2 to $ 5.5)
170% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.5Switzerland: Hotel and accommodation budget
On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Switzerland is 22% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
$ 104/night
($ 91 to $ 122)
($ 91 to $ 122)
4% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1092-star hotel
$ 136/night
($ 104 to $ 174)
($ 104 to $ 174)
8% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1263-star hotel
$ 177/night
($ 141 to $ 222)
($ 141 to $ 222)
1% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1804-star hotel
$ 234/night
($ 183 to $ 302)
($ 183 to $ 302)
10% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2625-star hotel
$ 499/night
($ 363 to $ 698)
($ 363 to $ 698)
2% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 510Hotel/Youth Hostel
$ 122/month
($ 106 to $ 145)
($ 106 to $ 145)
0% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 122Room with kitchen
$ 253/month
($ 168 to $ 401)
($ 168 to $ 401)
50% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169Hotel with swimming pool
$ 267/month
($ 156 to $ 445)
($ 156 to $ 445)
62% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165Cottage or guest house
$ 159/month
($ 112 to $ 237)
($ 112 to $ 237)
28% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223Family room
$ 390/month
($ 268 to $ 578)
($ 268 to $ 578)
124% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175Switzerland: Supermarket food budget
On average, the price of supermarket food in Switzerland is 49% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Milk
$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 2.2)
($ 1.3 to $ 2.2)
106% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.8Bread
$ 3/500g
($ 1.3 to $ 4.5)
($ 1.3 to $ 4.5)
13% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7Rice
$ 3.1/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 5.5)
($ 1.9 to $ 5.5)
21% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9Eggs
$ 6.1/12 eggs
($ 3.2 to $ 9.2)
($ 3.2 to $ 9.2)
168% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3Chicken
$ 29/kg
($ 14 to $ 42)
($ 14 to $ 42)
210% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9Apples
$ 4.2/kg
($ 2.7 to $ 5.5)
($ 2.7 to $ 5.5)
5% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5Tomatoes
$ 4.4/kg
($ 2.2 to $ 6.6)
($ 2.2 to $ 6.6)
6% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.2Potatoes
$ 2.7/kg
($ 1.6 to $ 4.4)
($ 1.6 to $ 4.4)
9% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5Water bottle
$ 1.1
($ 0.2 to $ 2.2)
($ 0.2 to $ 2.2)
42% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8Switzerland: Public and private transport budget
On average, the price of transport in Switzerland is 118% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
$ 3.8/ticket
($ 3.1 to $ 5.5)
($ 3.1 to $ 5.5)
73% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2Taxi (per km)
$ 4.2/km
($ 3.2 to $ 5.5)
($ 3.2 to $ 5.5)
158% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6Petrol
$ 1.8/litre
($ 1.6 to $ 1.9)
($ 1.6 to $ 1.9)
165% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.7Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 7
($ 6.6 to $ 11)
($ 6.6 to $ 11)
122% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2Car hire
$ 69/24hrs
($ 26 to $ 173)
($ 26 to $ 173)
73% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40Switzerland: Leisure activity budget
On average, budget for leisure activities in Switzerland is 111% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
$ 22/ticket
($ 18 to $ 26)
($ 18 to $ 26)
76% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12Tennis
$ 39/hr
($ 28 to $ 51)
($ 28 to $ 51)
146% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16Switzerland: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes
On average, shopping budget in Switzerland is 77% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
$ 9.3/pack
($ 8.7 to $ 9.8)
($ 8.7 to $ 9.8)
18% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.9Levi's jeans
$ 115
($ 77 to $ 164)
($ 77 to $ 164)
159% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 45Summer dress
$ 57
($ 34 to $ 88)
($ 34 to $ 88)
55% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 36Plane ticket budget
London → Geneva
$ 180
(fair price: $ 153)
(fair price: $ 153)
London → Zurich
$ 192
(fair price: $ 175)
(fair price: $ 175)
Manchester → Geneva
$ 180
(fair price: $ 153)
(fair price: $ 153)
New York City → Zurich
$ 790
(fair price: $ 550)
(fair price: $ 550)
Los Angeles → Zurich
$ 1079
(fair price: $ 740)
(fair price: $ 740)
New York City → Geneva
$ 845
(fair price: $ 549)
(fair price: $ 549)
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 09-05-2021.