🇨🇭Cost of Living in Geneva

Switzerland · Population: 200,000 · Cost Index: 98/100

Cost of Living in Geneva

Switzerland · Europe

Geneva is a global hub for diplomacy and finance, hosting the United Nations and numerous international organizations on the shores of Lake Geneva. The city is one of the most expensive in the world but offers exceptional public services, safety, and proximity to the Alps.

200,000

Population

Cost Index

Safety Index

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $4,800 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Geneva

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person

$4,800

per month

Couple

$7,200

per month

Family of 4

$10,080

per month

Student

$3,600

per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Geneva, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $2,975.00

1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$2,400.00

1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$1,800.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$4,500.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$3,200.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $20.10

Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)

$28.00

Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)

$120.00

McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)

$15.00

Milk (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.80

Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)

$3.00

Rice (1 kg)(per kg)

$3.20

Eggs (12)(per dozen)

$5.50

Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)

$18.00

Apples (1 kg)(per kg)

$4.00

Banana (1 kg)(per kg)

$2.50

Transportation

Avg: $19.08

Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)

$80.00

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)

$3.50

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)

$6.50

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)

$3.50

Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.90

Utilities

Avg: $105.00

Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)

$220.00

Mobile Phone Plan(per month)

$45.00

Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)

$50.00

Healthcare

Avg: $108.33

Doctor Visit(per visit)

$120.00

Dentist Visit(per visit)

$180.00

Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)

$25.00

Entertainment

Avg: $32.13

Fitness Club Monthly(per month)

$95.00

Cinema Ticket(per ticket)

$20.00

Cappuccino(per cup)

$5.50

Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)

$8.00

Clothing

Avg: $93.33

Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)

$110.00

Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)

$50.00

Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)

$120.00

Popular Geneva comparisons

Geneva vs Zurich Geneva vs Bern Geneva vs New York Geneva vs London Geneva vs Tokyo Geneva vs Singapore Geneva vs Dubai Geneva vs Paris

Frequently asked questions about Geneva

Is Geneva expensive to live in?

Geneva has a cost of living index of 98 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This makes it one of the most expensive cities we track.

How much money do you need to live in Geneva?

A single person needs an estimated $4,800 per month to live in Geneva, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.

What is the cost of living index in Geneva?

Geneva's cost of living index is 98 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.

What is quality of life like in Geneva?

Geneva scores 88 out of 100 for quality of life and 80 out of 100 for safety in our index.

Data & sources

As an independent cross-check, the World Bank puts the overall price level in Switzerland at 126 relative to the United States (=100) in 2024. View source

Cost figures on this site are independent estimates, cross-referenced with public data sources including World Bank, Numbeo, Eurostat, OECD.