14 cities compared · 2026

🇦🇹 Austria vs 🇨🇭 Switzerland

Switzerland is 71.1% pricier, but purchasing power is 28.2% stronger. You pay more but earn proportionally more.

+71.1%

Cost of Living

+124.3%

Rent

+54.3%

Groceries

+65.5%

Restaurants

+28.2%

Purchasing Power

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

Every Category, Side by Side

Averaged across 14 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category	🇦🇹 Austria	🇨🇭 Switzerland	Diff
Cost of Living	47.8	81.8	+71.1%
Rent	23.9	53.6	+124.3%
Groceries	68.1	105.1	+54.3%
Restaurants	72.7	120.3	+65.5%
Purchasing Power	125.5	160.9	+28.2%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

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

Gross	🇦🇹 Net in Austria	🇨🇭 Net in Switzerland	Diff
€40,000 ≈ CHF 38,000	€29,598	CHF 32,897	+€5,144
€60,000 ≈ CHF 57,000	€41,102	CHF 47,496	+€9,057
€80,000 ≈ CHF 76,000	€51,756	CHF 61,340	+€13,024
€100,000 ≈ CHF 95,000	€62,741	CHF 74,851	+€16,307

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

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

🇦🇹

Austria

City	CoL	Rent	PP
Vienna	50.7	28.5	134.9
Graz	47.6	19.3	134
Innsbruck	55.7	32.3	101.8
Linz	44	20.9	121.9
Villach	41.2	18.3	135.1

🇨🇭

Switzerland

City	CoL	Rent	PP
Zurich	88.8	70.2	158.5
Geneva	85.9	60.8	160.5
Basel	77.8	45.1	169
Bern	75.2	42.4	171.4
Zug	105.5	83.9	132.1

City-to-City Comparisons

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Switzerland more expensive than Austria?

Switzerland is 71.1% more expensive than Austria overall. Rent is 124.3% higher, and groceries are 54.3% more expensive. These figures are averages across 9 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 125.5 while Switzerland has 160.9 (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 23.9 vs 53.6 in Switzerland (NYC = 100). Rent in Switzerland is 124.3% higher than in Austria.

How many cities are compared between Austria and Switzerland?

Our comparison covers 5 cities in Austria and 9 cities in Switzerland, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.