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

Lucerne travel budget

Lucerne: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Lucerne

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

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Lucerne compared to United States in 2025

On average, the cost of living in Lucerne in 2025 is 63% higher than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Lucerne in 2025 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Lucerne by expense type

Restaurant budget in Lucerne

Lunch

$ 38/person
($ 25 to $ 80)

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73% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

3 course dinner

$ 78/person
($ 62 to $ 305)

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95% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40

McDonald's meal

$ 17/person
($ 16 to $ 21)

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41% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 8.8 for 500ml
($ 5.4 to $ 13)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.3

Imported beer

$ 4 for 330ml
($ 1.2 to $ 6.1)

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6% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Cappuccino

$ 6.2/cup
($ 5.4 to $ 9.7)

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15% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.5

Fizzy drink

$ 4.5/can
($ 3.1 to $ 5.4)

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70% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Water bottle

$ 3.7/bottle
($ 2.4 to $ 6.7)

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73% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Lucerne

1-star hotel

$ 198/night
($ 115 to $ 686)

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17% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 170

2-star hotel

$ 217/night
($ 112 to $ 636)

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35% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 162

3-star hotel

$ 236/night
($ 106 to $ 668)

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1% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 239

4-star hotel

$ 347/night
($ 145 to $ 868)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 336

5-star hotel

$ 621/night
($ 283 to $ 1432)

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14% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 549

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 211/month
($ 118 to $ 636)

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23% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 172

Room with kitchen

$ 354/month
($ 121 to $ 951)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 256

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 395/month
($ 134 to $ 1244)

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82% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 217

Cottage or guest house

$ 275/month
($ 166 to $ 919)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 247

Family room

$ 442/month
($ 173 to $ 1483)

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110% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 212

Supermarket food budget in Lucerne

Milk

$ 2.3/litre
($ 1.7 to $ 2.8)

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102% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 4.2/500g
($ 1.7 to $ 5.4)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Rice

$ 4.4/kg
($ 2.9 to $ 6)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8

Eggs

$ 8/12 eggs
($ 4.1 to $ 12)

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107% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Chicken

$ 38/kg
($ 25 to $ 43)

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189% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 3.8/kg
($ 2.4 to $ 5.1)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.5

Tomatoes

$ 8/kg
($ 3.8 to $ 9.6)

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56% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Potatoes

$ 2.4/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 3.4)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.1

Water bottle

$ 1.2
($ 0.7 to $ 2.7)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Public and private transport budget in Lucerne

Bus ticket

$ 4.5/ticket
($ 2.9 to $ 8.9)

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73% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Taxi (per km)

$ 4.7/km
($ 4.7 to $ 4.9)

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163% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 2.1/litre
($ 2.1 to $ 2.3)

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118% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 8
($ 4.1 to $ 8.5)

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106% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Car hire

$ 75/24hrs
($ 54 to $ 124)

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4% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 78

Leisure activity budget in Lucerne

Cinema

$ 23/ticket
($ 23 to $ 25)

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48% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 48/hr
($ 31 to $ 38)

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110% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Lucerne

Cigarettes

$ 11/pack
($ 11 to $ 13)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 159
($ 123 to $ 182)

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184% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 56

Summer dress

$ 77
($ 49 to $ 98)

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70% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46

Plane ticket budget

New York City → Zurich

$ 972
(fair price: $ 746)

London → Zurich

$ 155
(fair price: $ 128)

Sydney → Zurich

$ 1479
(fair price: $ 1240)

Melbourne → Zurich

$ 1548
(fair price: $ 1264)

Toronto → Zurich

$ 1080
(fair price: $ 925)

Edinburgh → Zurich

$ 301
(fair price: $ 230)