13 cities compared · 2026

🇦🇹 Austria vs 🇨🇭 Switzerland

Switzerland is 59.2% pricier, but purchasing power is 38.3% stronger. You pay more but earn proportionally more.

+59.2%
Cost of Living
+113.8%
Rent
+56.7%
Groceries
+64.5%
Restaurants
+38.3%
Purchasing Power

Compared to Austria. Green = cheaper or better in Switzerland. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Every Category, Side by Side

Austria vs Switzerland

Averaged across 13 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category 🇦🇹 🇨🇭 Diff
Cost of Living 71.6 114 +59.2%
Rent 24.7 52.8 +113.8%
Groceries 71.8 112.5 +56.7%
Restaurants 72.1 118.6 +64.5%
Purchasing Power 113.2 156.5 +38.3%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

Vienna vs Zurich

Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Vienna vs Zurich.

Gross 🇦🇹 Net in Austria 🇨🇭 Net in Switzerland Diff
€40,000 €28,343 €33,556 +€5,213
€60,000 €38,544 €48,633 +€10,089
€80,000 €48,375 €63,038 +€14,663
€100,000 €58,864 €77,168 +€18,304

Single person, no children. Tax rates for Vienna and Zurich (2026). Try the full calculator

Tax Calculators

See detailed income tax brackets and net salary calculations for Austria and Switzerland.

🇦🇹
Austria Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary
 🇨🇭
Switzerland Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary

These are averages. What about your salary?

Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.

Calculate Your Take-Home Pay

Top Cities in Each Country

Austria & Switzerland

National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.

🇦🇹

Austria

City CoL Rent PP
Vienna 75.5 29.8 113.9
Graz 71.2 19.6 124.5
Innsbruck 76.4 33.1 95.4
Linz 69.1 21.8 114
Villach 66 19.1 118.2
🇨🇭

Switzerland

City CoL Rent PP
Zurich 125.2 74.9 150.4
Geneva 113.1 64.2 156.9
Basel 113.6 49.5 159.8
Bern 110.7 45 167.3
Lucerne 114.6 49.1 151.3

City-to-City Comparisons

Austria ↔ Switzerland

See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Austria and Switzerland.

Vienna → Zurich
Vienna → Geneva
Vienna → Basel
Graz → Zurich
Graz → Geneva
Graz → Basel

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Switzerland more expensive than Austria?
Switzerland is 59.2% more expensive than Austria overall. Rent is 113.8% higher, and groceries are 56.7% more expensive. These figures are averages across 8 cities in Switzerland and 5 cities in Austria.
Which country has better purchasing power, Austria or Switzerland?
Austria has an average purchasing power index of 113.2 while Switzerland has 156.5 (NYC = 100). Switzerland offers better purchasing power, meaning your salary goes further relative to local prices.
Is rent cheaper in Austria or Switzerland?
Average rent in Austria has an index of 24.7 vs 52.8 in Switzerland (NYC = 100). Rent in Switzerland is 113.8% higher than in Austria.
How many cities are compared between Austria and Switzerland?
Our comparison covers 5 cities in Austria and 8 cities in Switzerland, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.

These are averages. What about your salary?

Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.

Calculate Your Take-Home Pay Compare Other Countries