Wages in Zurich may be high, but so is the cost of living. So how much money do you need to live comfortably in Switzerland’s largest – and most expensive – city?
Zurich presents a paradox sorts – its salaries are higher than pretty much everywhere else, but being the world’s most expensive city means this money may not go far enough.
How much it tales to live well (or at least comfortably) there depends on many factors, the most important of which is your lifestyle and spending habits.
In you like to live it up, then you will need a much higher income than someone who budgets carefully and spends reasonably.
Let’s crunch some figures:
According to Numbeo database for 2026 – which is based on official figures – an average monthly salary in Zurich hovers around 6,739 francs – quite a bit more than an average Swiss wage of 5,714.42. (Both these are NET numbers – that is, after payroll deductions – which gives a clearer idea than a gross wage of the actual disposable income).
How far does this money go?
Do the math:
A one-bedroom apartment outside city centre costs 1,729 francs, while a three-bedroom one is 3,336.84.
The rent for a two-bedroom flat is not listed but, logically, falls somewhere in the middle.
Then there is the cost of health insurance – 451 francs on average per adult per month, increasing to 564 francs in 2027.
Other charges include taxes and various utilities, as well as public transport and/or car expenses, the amount of which is variable, depending on a particular community within the canton, but reasonably several hundred francs a month.
And then there is price of food, which is also based on how many people there are in the family, and where they shop – at more expensive Coop, more moderately priced Migros, or discount retailers like Aldi and Lidl.
So what is a good salary for Zurich?
Again, it depends on individual circumstances, but various relocation sites cite these numbers:
- 5,000 francs net per month for a single individual. This covers rent, health insurance, groceries, public transport, and a regular social life while still allowing to save – in other words, a truly comfortable life.
- A family of four would need 10,000 to 14,000 francs net per month for the same standard of living – which is achievable if both parents work and earn an average wage.
All these are, however, theoretical numbers.
To get a better idea of what it actually takes to have a comfortable life in the world’s costliest city, The Local asked Anna, who moved to Zurich from the US at the end of 2025.
She and her husband both work, earning 6,500 and 9,000 francs a month, respectively. They have two young children attending public schools.
Their rent for a four-room (three-bedroom) flat on the outskirts is 2,700 francs. They don’t own a car and travel exclusively by public transport, shopping mostly in their neighbourhood Migros.
According to Anna, their combined 15,500-franc monthly income (plus a family allowance of 430 francs per month for the two kids) allows the family to live comfortably, letting them have occasional splurges like a dinner out, a weekend trip, and annual vacations back in the United States. Some months they manage to save some money, and at other times, not.
READ MORE: Your views on living in expensive Zurich
