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:
- $ 135 for 2 ppl.
- $ 30 per person
- $ 16 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 3142* (2786 CHF)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 189 for 2 ppl.
- $ 68 per person
- $ 38 per person
- $ 23 per person
Total budget:
$ 6195* (5474 CHF)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 236 for 2 ppl.
- $ 116 per person
- $ 77 per person
- $ 46 per person
Total budget:
$ 9937* (8778 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 2024
Cost of living: Switzerland VS United States
On average, the cost of living in Switzerland in 2024 is 51% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Interlaken | 15% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Interlaken |
| Winterthur | 9% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Winterthur |
| Lucerne | 4% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Lucerne |
| Davos | 4% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Davos |
| Sion | 3% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Sion |
| Zurich | 2% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Zurich |
| Bern | 1% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Bern |
| Lugano | 1% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Lugano |
| Lausanne | 2% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Lausanne |
| Basel | 3% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Basel |
| Geneva | 5% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Geneva |
| Fribourg | 10% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Fribourg |
Local prices in Switzerland by expense type
Switzerland: Restaurant budget
On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Switzerland is 48% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
$ 29/person
($ 21 to $ 41)
($ 21 to $ 41)
41% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 203 course dinner
$ 62/person
($ 46 to $ 96)
($ 46 to $ 96)
63% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38McDonald's meal
$ 18/person
($ 16 to $ 21)
($ 16 to $ 21)
54% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11Local beer
$ 7.8 for 500ml
($ 5.1 to $ 11)
($ 5.1 to $ 11)
32% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6Imported beer
$ 2.7 for 330ml
($ 1.1 to $ 4.4)
($ 1.1 to $ 4.4)
22% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5Cappuccino
$ 5.4/cup
($ 3.4 to $ 7.3)
($ 3.4 to $ 7.3)
7% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1Fizzy drink
$ 4.8/can
($ 3.4 to $ 5.6)
($ 3.4 to $ 5.6)
93% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5Water bottle
$ 4.3/bottle
($ 3.4 to $ 5.6)
($ 3.4 to $ 5.6)
112% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2Switzerland: Hotel and accommodation budget
On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Switzerland is 14% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
$ 180/night
($ 95 to $ 534)
($ 95 to $ 534)
4% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1752-star hotel
$ 177/night
($ 94 to $ 436)
($ 94 to $ 436)
12% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1593-star hotel
$ 201/night
($ 99 to $ 524)
($ 99 to $ 524)
13% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2314-star hotel
$ 270/night
($ 126 to $ 676)
($ 126 to $ 676)
13% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3115-star hotel
$ 505/night
($ 250 to $ 1161)
($ 250 to $ 1161)
7% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 476Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 192/month
($ 105 to $ 530)
($ 105 to $ 530)
16% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166Room with kitchen
$ 287/month
($ 110 to $ 882)
($ 110 to $ 882)
18% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 244Hotel with swimming pool
$ 303/month
($ 115 to $ 842)
($ 115 to $ 842)
43% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 213Cottage or guest house
$ 209/month
($ 121 to $ 555)
($ 121 to $ 555)
7% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 226Family room
$ 372/month
($ 140 to $ 1123)
($ 140 to $ 1123)
75% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214Switzerland: Supermarket food budget
On average, the price of supermarket food in Switzerland is 25% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Milk
$ 2/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 2.3)
($ 1.3 to $ 2.3)
85% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1Bread
$ 3.7/500g
($ 1.7 to $ 5.5)
($ 1.7 to $ 5.5)
3% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6Rice
$ 4/kg
($ 2.1 to $ 5.5)
($ 2.1 to $ 5.5)
12% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5Eggs
$ 6.8/12 eggs
($ 3.9 to $ 9.5)
($ 3.9 to $ 9.5)
88% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7Chicken
$ 30/kg
($ 15 to $ 41)
($ 15 to $ 41)
135% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13Apples
$ 3.6/kg
($ 2.3 to $ 5.6)
($ 2.3 to $ 5.6)
33% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3Tomatoes
$ 5.9/kg
($ 2.3 to $ 8.9)
($ 2.3 to $ 8.9)
21% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9Potatoes
$ 2.5/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 3.9)
($ 1.2 to $ 3.9)
17% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3Water bottle
$ 1.2
($ 0.7 to $ 2.3)
($ 0.7 to $ 2.3)
47% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2Switzerland: Public and private transport budget
On average, the price of transport in Switzerland is 92% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
$ 3.9/ticket
($ 3.1 to $ 5.9)
($ 3.1 to $ 5.9)
58% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5Taxi (per km)
$ 4.3/km
($ 3.4 to $ 5.6)
($ 3.4 to $ 5.6)
152% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7Petrol
$ 2.1/litre
($ 2 to $ 2.4)
($ 2 to $ 2.4)
119% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 7.3
($ 5.6 to $ 12)
($ 5.6 to $ 12)
110% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5Car hire
$ 70/24hrs
($ 42 to $ 142)
($ 42 to $ 142)
19% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 59Switzerland: Leisure activity budget
On average, budget for leisure activities in Switzerland is 72% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
$ 23/ticket
($ 19 to $ 29)
($ 19 to $ 29)
62% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14Tennis
$ 43/hr
($ 29 to $ 57)
($ 29 to $ 57)
82% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23Switzerland: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes
On average, shopping budget in Switzerland is 57% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
$ 11/pack
($ 9.3 to $ 12)
($ 9.3 to $ 12)
2% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10Levi's jeans
$ 124
($ 57 to $ 170)
($ 57 to $ 170)
132% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54Summer dress
$ 60
($ 35 to $ 102)
($ 35 to $ 102)
38% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44Plane ticket budget
New York City → Zurich
$ 1010
(fair price: $ 768)
(fair price: $ 768)
New York City → Geneva
$ 968
(fair price: $ 700)
(fair price: $ 700)
Los Angeles → Zurich
$ 1150
(fair price: $ 897)
(fair price: $ 897)
London → Geneva
$ 111
(fair price: $ 84)
(fair price: $ 84)
Sydney → Zurich
$ 1567
(fair price: $ 1290)
(fair price: $ 1290)
London → Zurich
$ 134
(fair price: $ 106)
(fair price: $ 106)
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, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.
Information about cost of living in Switzerland updated on 25-07-2024.
© 2014-2024 Des Clics Nomades SAS - All right reserved
Legal notice