Daily costs per person in CHF. Zurich is the world's most expensive city, but supermarket meals, free swimming, and smart choices make it survivable.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: CHF (Swiss Franc) (1 USD ≈ 0.88 CHF)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | CHF 35–55 | CHF 120–220 | CHF 350+ | Hostels → 3-star hotels → lakefront luxury |
| Food | CHF 15–30 | CHF 40–70 | CHF 100+ | Supermarket & kebabs → cafes & Beizli → fine dining |
| Transport | CHF 5–10 | CHF 15–27 | CHF 40+ | Walking & short trips → day pass → taxis |
| Activities | CHF 0–10 | CHF 15–30 | CHF 60+ | Free swims & parks → museums → mountain trips |
| Drinks | CHF 8–15 | CHF 20–35 | CHF 50+ | Supermarket beer → craft bars → cocktail bars |
| Daily Total | CHF 63–120 | CHF 210–382 | CHF 600+ | $72–136 → $239–434 → $682+ |
Money-saving tips
Supermarket strategy
Coop and Migros meals-to-go are CHF 6–12 for quality sandwiches, salads, and sushi. Restaurants charge CHF 25–40 for a main. Supermarket eating saves CHF 15–25 per meal.
Free swimming
Oberer Letten river swimming is free. Many Badis cost CHF 0–8. Swimming in the lake and rivers is one of Zurich's greatest pleasures and costs virtually nothing.
Free Wednesdays
Kunsthaus is free on Wednesday evenings. Swiss National Museum is free Saturday afternoons. Check opening hours for other free-entry periods.
ZürichCARD
The ZürichCARD (CHF 27/24h, CHF 53/72h) covers all public transport, museum discounts, and a free Limmat river cruise. Good value if using public transport heavily.
Water fountains
Zurich has 1,200 public fountains — all with drinkable water (the ones with the crossed-out cup symbol aren't drinkable, but they're rare). A bottle of water at a cafe costs CHF 5–7.
Kebab & immigrant food
Zurich's cheapest meals are along Langstrasse — Turkish kebabs (CHF 10–12), Vietnamese pho (CHF 14), and Indian curries (CHF 15). This is where Zurich eats affordably.
