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COST OF LIVING

Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Lausanne: How much does it cost to live in these Swiss cities?

How do wages and cost of living in general compare from one Swiss city to another? We crunched the numbers for Switzerland's most international cities and came up with some interesting answers.

Published: 8 February 2023 13:35 CET
Updated: 16 March 2023 11:00 CET
Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Lausanne: How much does it cost to live in these Swiss cities?
Different cities, different costs of living. Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

Swiss cities are consistently ranked among the most expensive in the world.

But how much does it really cost to live there if we take into account median wages versus prices for various products and services, as well as fixed costs such as rent and utilities?

We looked at selected available data for Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Lausanne — the four cities where most international residents live.

It is important to keep in mind, however, that these are current approximate averages, and can change on short notice, taking into account changing inflation rate and other factors.

Zurich

Average monthly net salary: 6,240 francs

Rent for a four-room apartment in the city centre: 3,832.92 francs; 2,737.92 francs farther from the centre

Electricity, heating, water, trash collection for a 85m2 apartment: 252.19 francs a month

Public transportation: one-way, ticket, local: 4.40 francs; Monthly Pass (regular price): 97.50 francs

Monthly childcare (full day, private): 2,772.48 francs

Fitness club, monthly fee for one adult: 84.98 francs

Three-course meal for two people at mid-range restaurant: 120 francs

Summary:

  • Estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 5,754.5 francs without rent
  • Estimated monthly costs for a single person are 1,571 francs without rent

You can see more Zurich prices here. 

READ MORE: Which Zurich municipalities have the lowest and highest tax rates?

Geneva 

Average monthly net salary: 5,446.28 francs

Rent for a four-room apartment in the city centre: 4,219.05 francs; 3,016.67 francs farther from the centre.

Electricity, heating, water, trash collection for a 85m2 apartment: 192.70 francs a month

Public transportation: one-way, ticket, local: 3 francs; Monthly Pass (regular price): 70 francs

Monthly childcare (full day, private): 2,054.62 francs

Fitness club, monthly fee for one adult: 84.98 francs

Three-course meal for two people at mid-range restaurant: 115 francs.

Summary:

  • Estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 4,981.5 francs without rent.
  • Estimated monthly costs for a  single person are 1,357.90 francs without rent

You can see more Geneva prices here. 

The city of Geneva. Photo: Pixabay

Basel

Average monthly net salary: 5,984.90 francs

Rent for a four-room apartment in the city centre: 2,718.18 francs; 2,055.56 francs farther from the centre

Electricity, heating, water, trash collection for a 85m2 apartment: 268.66 francs a month

Public transportation: one-way, ticket, local: 3.60 francs; Monthly Pass (regular price): 80 francs

Monthly childcare (full day, private): 2,487.50 francs

Fitness club, monthly fee for one adult: 72.21 francs

Three-course meal for two people at mid-range restaurant: 112.50 francs.

Summary:

  • Estimated monthly costs for a family of four  are 5,995 francs without rent
  • Estimated monthly costs for a single person are 1,636 francs without rent

You can see more Basel prices here. 

READ MORE: What we know about Basel’s international residents 

Lausanne

Average monthly net salary: 5,063.62 francs

Rent for a four-room apartment in the city centre: 3,127.27 francs; 2,570 francs farther from the centre

Electricity, heating, water, trash collection for a 85m2 apartment: 285.28 francs a month

Public transportation: one-way, ticket, local: 3.70 francs; Monthly Pass (regular price): 74 francs

Monthly childcare (full day, private): 2,511.11 francs

Fitness club, monthly fee for one adult: 78.69 francs

Three-course meal for two people at mid-range restaurant: 105 francs.

Summary:

  • Estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 5,504.3 francs without rent
  • Estimated monthly costs for a single person are1,522 francs without rent

You can see more Lausanne prices here.

READ MORE: Why the Swiss city of Lausanne is so popular among foreigners

And the conclusion is:

  • Local Purchasing Power in Zurich is 6.8 percent higher than in Geneva
  • Local Purchasing Power in Zurich is 2.8 percent lower than in Basel
  • Local Purchasing Power in Zurich is 13.8 percent higher than in Lausanne

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ZURICH

Why does Zurich need airbags on the front of its trams?

Due to a recent spate of fatal accidents, authorities in Switzerland’s largest city are looking for ways to make tramway tracks more secure for pedestrians.

Published: 23 April 2024 12:40 CEST
Why does Zurich need airbags on the front of its trams?

Three fatal tram accidents occurred in Zurich in the span of five days in early March.

In one, a pedestrian fell between the tram and the platform at the Oerlikon Ost stop; the victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died the next morning.

Next, a cyclist collided with a tram in District 5, succumbing to his injuries the next day.

The same day, another pedestrian fell under a tram at Zurich’s main train station, dying at the scene of the accident.

Though all three events happened in quick succession, accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists colliding with public transport in Zurich are not a new phenomenon.

“In recent years, accidents involving personal injuries have increased steadily,” said city official Michele Romagnolo. “People are crushed by trams and die. We can’t stand idly by.”

What is being done to prevent this type of deaths in the future?

The Zurich Transport Authority (VBZ) and tram manufacturer Alstom are currently testing airbags that inflate when a tram hits a pedestrian.

This mechanism would be triggered by a sensor on the front of the driver’s cab, and is intended to reduce the impact and consequences of a collision between the trams and pedestrians or cyclists.

According to Heinz Schulthess, president of the tram drivers’ association, “in head-on accidents, people first hit their heads on the window and then fall to the ground. An airbag pushes a person away, largely preventing the impact and minimising the risk of death.”

During this test phase, engineers are also looking into ways to increase the speed of airbag deployment and develop a mechanism for quick folding, so that the tram can resume operation immediately after an incident.

When would this system be deployed?

The trial run is expected to be completed in summer of 2024.

“What happens next depends on the results,” the VBZ spokesperson Leo Herrmann said.

Are any other safety measures under consideration as well?

According to Schulthess, another way to increase tram safety would be to install red LED lights along the tracks on the ground.

They would serve to would warn people crossing the tram tracks while staring at their smartphones.

“The main cause of accidents are pedestrians crossing the street without paying attention,” he said.

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