City in Vaud, Switzerland
Cost of living in Lausanne
How much a month costs in Lausanne
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $5,190–7,240 (CHF4,300–6,000).
Prices in Lausanne
Typical 2026 ranges in CHF, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | CHF | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | CHF1,700–2,700 | $2,050–3,260 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | CHF1,300–2,100 | $1,570–2,530 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | CHF40–65 | $48–78 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | CHF150–280 | $181–338 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | CHF15–24 | $18–29 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | CHF35–58 | $42–70 |
| Cappuccino | CHF3–5 | $3.6–6.0 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | CHF5–8 | $6.0–9.7 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | CHF3–4 | $3.6–4.8 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | CHF22–38 | $27–46 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | CHF80–140 | $97–169 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | CHF20–45 | $24–54 |
Value for money: 1/100
A value score of 1/100 means Lausanne gives more quality of life per dollar than 0% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 77/100. It's the 5th most affordable of 12 places we cover in Switzerland.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Switzerland
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Lugano | $4,830–7,000 | 3/100 |
| Interlaken | $5,070–7,000 | 3/100 |
| Lucerne | $5,190–7,240 | 2/100 |
| Bern | $5,190–7,240 | 2/100 |
| Lausanne | $5,190–7,240 | 1/100 |
| Basel | $5,310–7,480 | 2/100 |
| Grindelwald | $5,430–7,840 | 1/100 |
| Montreux | $5,430–7,840 | 2/100 |
| Zurich | $5,790–7,840 | 1/100 |
| Geneva | $6,030–8,210 | — |
| Zermatt | $6,030–9,050 | 1/100 |
| St. Moritz | $6,640–9,650 | — |
Cheaper alternatives to Lausanne
Similar safety, lower cost, in Europe.
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Lausanne?
About $3,020–3,980 on a lean budget, $5,190–7,240 for a comfortable month and $9,050–14,480 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Lausanne?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs CHF1,700–2,700 ($2,050–3,260) a month in the center and CHF1,300–2,100 ($1,570–2,530) outside it.
How much does food cost in Lausanne?
A local meal is CHF15–24 ($18–29); a mid-range restaurant is CHF35–58 ($42–70) per person.
Is Switzerland expensive?
Prices in Switzerland are about 112% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Lausanne
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- tl Lausanne transport
- Lausanne Tourism
- CGN Lake Geneva boats
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.