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

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

* 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 59% 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.

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Local prices in Switzerland by expense type

Switzerland: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 31/person
($ 23 to $ 43)

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49% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 66/person
($ 48 to $ 95)

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72% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

McDonald's meal

$ 18/person
($ 17 to $ 23)

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62% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 8.3 for 500ml
($ 5.9 to $ 11)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 2.9 for 330ml
($ 1.2 to $ 4.8)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Cappuccino

$ 5.8/cup
($ 3.6 to $ 7.7)

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13% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 5.1/can
($ 3.6 to $ 5.9)

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105% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 4.7/bottle
($ 3.6 to $ 5.9)

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

Switzerland: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 189/night
($ 95 to $ 579)

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5% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 181

2-star hotel

$ 186/night
($ 96 to $ 476)

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14% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 163

3-star hotel

$ 208/night
($ 102 to $ 535)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 239

4-star hotel

$ 278/night
($ 129 to $ 703)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 323

5-star hotel

$ 519/night
($ 260 to $ 1210)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 470

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 201/month
($ 106 to $ 569)

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17% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 173

Room with kitchen

$ 296/month
($ 111 to $ 923)

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18% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 253

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 312/month
($ 119 to $ 881)

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44% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 218

Cottage or guest house

$ 217/month
($ 123 to $ 597)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 234

Family room

$ 384/month
($ 144 to $ 1160)

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77% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 218

Switzerland: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 2/litre
($ 1.4 to $ 2.3)

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96% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Bread

$ 3.9/500g
($ 1.8 to $ 5.9)

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9% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 4.2/kg
($ 2 to $ 5.9)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 7.2/12 eggs
($ 4.1 to $ 9.9)

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96% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Chicken

$ 31/kg
($ 16 to $ 43)

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149% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 3.7/kg
($ 2.3 to $ 5.9)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 6.2/kg
($ 2.3 to $ 9.4)

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27% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 2.7/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.1)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 1.2
($ 0.7 to $ 2.3)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Switzerland: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 4.1/ticket
($ 3.3 to $ 5.9)

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67% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 4.6/km
($ 3.6 to $ 5.9)

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171% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 2.2/litre
($ 2.1 to $ 2.3)

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128% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 7.7
($ 5.9 to $ 12)

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117% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Car hire

$ 67/24hrs
($ 43 to $ 134)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 73

Switzerland: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 24/ticket
($ 22 to $ 31)

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66% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 45/hr
($ 31 to $ 61)

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107% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

Switzerland: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 11/pack
($ 9.9 to $ 12)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10

Levi's jeans

$ 130
($ 61 to $ 179)

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146% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 53

Summer dress

$ 65
($ 36 to $ 108)

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47% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

New York City → Zurich

$ 1040
(fair price: $ 790)

New York City → Geneva

$ 1009
(fair price: $ 734)

Los Angeles → Zurich

$ 1221
(fair price: $ 952)

Sydney → Zurich

$ 1568
(fair price: $ 1304)

Montreal → Geneva

$ 985
(fair price: $ 849)

Toronto → Zurich

$ 1075
(fair price: $ 916)

Book a flight Flight prices to Switzerland