Cost of Living

Geneva, Switzerland

Live cost-of-living data for Geneva — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
49/ 10051% cheaper than New York
-6% rent since Jul 2026
$9,250/mo
Median Income
75/100
Safety
43%
Income Tax
temperate continental
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
95/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,890/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$2,221/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$5,010/month
Food & Groceries
85/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.05/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$3.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.4/kg
Transportation
35/100
Monthly Transit Pass$89/month
One-Way Ticket$4/trip
Taxi (1 km)$2.8/km
Utilities
75/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$287/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$52/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$38/month
Healthcare
70/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$120/visit
Dentist Visit$150/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$25/course
Education
72/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$1,200/month
International Primary School (yearly)$18,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$650/course
Entertainment
65/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$16/ticket
Theater Ticket$55/ticket
Museum Entry$18/ticket
Clothing
72/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$85/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$55/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$120/pair
Personal Care
65/100
Haircut (Men)$35/cut
Haircut (Women)$65/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$8.5/bottle
Dining Out
80/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$22/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$85/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$13/meal
Childcare
75/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$1,500/month
Babysitter (per hour)$22/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$28/pack
Fitness & Sports
68/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$65/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$30/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$10/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

450 Mbps
Internet Speed
$325
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
92/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Eaux-Vives, Plainpalais, Carouge

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Geneva cheap to live in?

Geneva has a cost of living index of 49/100, where New York = 100. It is 51% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,760–$2,464 per month.

How much does rent cost in Geneva?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Geneva costs approximately $2,890/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $2,221/month.

Is Geneva good for digital nomads?

Geneva has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 450 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $325/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Geneva?

The median net monthly salary in Geneva is approximately $9,250 USD. The income tax rate is around 43%.

How does Geneva compare to New York for cost of living?

Geneva (cost index 49) is 51% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,275/month by moving from New York to Geneva.

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