Cost of Living · CH vs US
🇨🇭 Zürich vs 🇺🇸 New York: what everyday life costs
Monthly essentials: $3,208 in Switzerland vs $2,410 in United States — 24.88% cheaper.
Biggest differences
Much cheaper in United States
- 🏙️ Rent: 1-bedroom, city center: -27.48%
- 🏡 Rent: 1-bedroom, outside center: -27.48%
- 🏢 Rent: 3-bedroom, city center: -27.48%
Closest to Switzerland prices
- ⛽ Petrol/gasoline, 1L: -8.65%
- 👟 Running shoes (brand): -8.77%
- 👖 Jeans (mid-range brand): -8.77%
The full basket (32 items)
| Item | Switzerland | United States | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| 🏙️ Rent: 1-bedroom, city center | $2,413 | $1,750 | -27.48% |
| 🏡 Rent: 1-bedroom, outside center | $1,931 | $1,400 | -27.48% |
| 🏢 Rent: 3-bedroom, city center | $4,413 | $3,200 | -27.48% |
| Food out | |||
| 🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $23.17 | $18.00 | -22.31% |
| 🍽️ Dinner for two, mid-range | $96.54 | $75.00 | -22.31% |
| 🍔 Fast-food combo meal | $13.84 | $11.00 | -20.52% |
| Groceries | |||
| 🥛 Milk, 1L | $1.32 | $1.10 | -16.67% |
| 🍞 Bread, fresh loaf 500g | $3.84 | $3.20 | -16.67% |
| 🥚 Eggs, dozen | $4.09 | $3.40 | -16.87% |
| 🍗 Chicken breast, 1kg | $12.02 | $10.00 | -16.81% |
| 🍚 White rice, 1kg | $4.81 | $4.00 | -16.84% |
| 🍎 Apples, 1kg | $5.77 | $4.80 | -16.81% |
| 🧀 Local cheese, 1kg | $14.42 | $12.00 | -16.78% |
| 💧 Water, 1.5L bottle | $2.40 | $2.00 | -16.67% |
| Drinks | |||
| 🍺 Domestic beer, pint (draught) | $7.72 | $6.00 | -22.28% |
| 🍻 Imported beer, 330ml bottle | $8.77 | $8.00 | -8.78% |
| ☕ Cappuccino | $6.44 | $5.00 | -22.36% |
| 🥤 Coke/Pepsi, 330ml | $2.76 | $2.30 | -16.67% |
| Transport | |||
| 🚇 Public transport, monthly pass | $81.77 | $65.00 | -20.51% |
| 🎫 Public transport, one-way | $3.46 | $2.75 | -20.52% |
| 🚕 Taxi start (normal tariff) | $5.15 | $4.00 | -22.33% |
| 🛣️ Taxi, per km | $2.32 | $1.80 | -22.41% |
| ⛽ Petrol/gasoline, 1L | $1.04 | $0.95 | -8.65% |
| Utilities & comms | |||
| 💡 Basic utilities, 85m² apartment | $252 | $200 | -20.51% |
| 🌐 Internet, 60Mbps+ unlimited | $88.06 | $70.00 | -20.51% |
| 📱 Mobile plan, 10GB+ data | $56.61 | $45.00 | -20.51% |
| Lifestyle | |||
| 🏋️ Gym membership, month | $64.36 | $50.00 | -22.31% |
| 🎬 Cinema seat | $18.02 | $14.00 | -22.31% |
| 💈 Men's haircut | $38.62 | $30.00 | -22.32% |
| 👖 Jeans (mid-range brand) | $60.29 | $55.00 | -8.77% |
| 👟 Running shoes (brand) | $98.65 | $90.00 | -8.77% |
| 💻 Coworking hot desk, month | $322 | $250 | -22.31% |
Estimated from World Bank — Consumption price levels with per-item elasticity — model figures, not quotes. Compare any pair in the interactive tool.
Related
Frequently asked questions
- How much cheaper is United States than Switzerland?
- A single person's monthly essentials run about $2,410 in United States versus $3,208 in Switzerland — 24.88% less. Rents differ the most; world-priced goods like petrol and electronics the least.
- What does a beer cost in United States?
- A domestic draught pint is roughly $6.00 in United States, versus about $7.72 in Switzerland.
- How much is rent in United States compared to Switzerland?
- A 1-bedroom city-center apartment is estimated at $1,750/month in United States versus $2,413/month in Switzerland (-27.48%). Housing is the most locally-priced item in the basket.
- How are these prices estimated?
- Curated US baseline prices scaled by each country's purchasing-power price level with per-item elasticities (housing 1.4, services 1.1, groceries 0.8, world-priced goods 0.4) — model estimates for orientation, not quotes.