How Much Does Switzerland Really Cost?

We doubt you’ll find Switzerland on many RTW itineraries, and there’s a pretty good reason for that: It is expensive. Megan’s mom happens to live in Switzerland, so we were able to visit for two weeks in August/September during our trip. We won’t be doing a budget breakdown for our time in Switzerland, as our actual spending was very low, but we did want to share a few examples of what things cost here, if you’re trying to budget for a Swiss trip.

Switzerland is roughly divided into three areas: the French region, the German region and the Italian region. We stayed in Montreux, which is in the French area of Switzerland. It is located about an hour from the Geneva airport by train, and situated on the opposite end of Lake Geneva. I added a star to the Rail Pass map above to indicate the location of Montreux.

Switzerland is not part of the European Union (though it is part of the Schengen Area, so there is no immigration control with neighboring countries). It uses the Swiss franc (CHF), which at the time of our visit was about equivalent to the U.S. dollar.

Food & Drink

*Tipping is not part of the culture in Switzerland, so remember the costs shown below are your actual costs; you don’t need to add 10 – 20 percent to your restaurant tab.

Fondue: One of the national dishes of Switzerland, fondue is hot cheese served with bread [above left]. Fondue at a restaurant runs about 25 – 30 CHF per person. If you want extras (e.g. potatoes to dip in addition to your bread, meat as an appetizer, etc.), you will pay more.

Pizza: I like to use pizza as a good barometer for what food costs in different places because pizza is everywhere! 😉 Expect to pay about 25 – 30 CHF for a pizza along the waterfront. Smaller pizzerias in town run around 18 – 25 CHF for a pizza.

Sandwiches: For a budget lunch, grab a sandwich from a bakery for about 4 – 7 CHF depending on the size and ingredients. This is one of the most budget-friendly options I saw in Switzerland.

Wine: For alcohol drinkers, public consumption is legal in Switzerland, so you can buy a bottle of wine at a grocery store for less than 10 francs and take it to the waterfront to enjoy on your own, rather than buying a glass of wine for 6 – 12 francs at a café near the lake. (Also, opt for a French or Italian wine if you can. Swiss wine is not that great, IMHO. Although I did love this sparkling rosé from La Cave Vevey-Montreux; pictured above right.)

Beer: Expect to pay anywhere from 4 – 8 CHF for a beer at a restaurant; of course it depends on what you order. Also, beers are often served in half-liters, so they may be bigger than what you expect to receive in the U.S.

Overall: I saw many restaurant reviews in Switzerland that said something along the lines of, “You can get a meal for less than 20 francs! Pretty good.” So, it depends on where you’re traveling from, but I would say eating out in Switzerland (generally) is not a budget experience. As always, you will find cheaper meals if you get away from the high-tourist areas and away from the waterfront. If you can’t buy groceries and cook in your accommodations, you can also peruse the hot sections of local supermarkets for cheaper options.

Activities

Free fun: The natural beauty of Switzerland means there are many free activities available! You can stroll along Lake Geneva or take one of the many hikes in the area. Remember to include transportation costs to the start of your hike if you cannot begin hiking wherever you are staying. For an easy “hike” in the Lake Geneva area, we recommend the Lavaux Vineyards walk [pictured above]. (We are biased because we got engaged there!)

Museums: Of course it depends on the museum, but The Nest in Vevey (limited opening) and the Olympic Museum in Lausanne both cost 18 CHF for adults. La Maison du Gruyère (the cheese factory and exhibit) costs 7 CHF to tour.

Castles: Château de Chillon in Montreux costs 12.50 CHF per adult. Château de Gruyères [pictured above] costs 12 CHF, or you can purchase a combo ticket with La Maison du Gruyère for 16 CHF (save 3 CHF per adult, and the two attractions are walkable from one another).

Boat cruise: Buses and trains are convenient and efficient transportation options in Switzerland (see below for more on transportation), but you can also take a CGN ferry between several cities along Lake Geneva as a fun activity. The full loop will cost you 47 CHF (second class, about 3.5 hours), or you can go a shorter distance (e.g. Montreux to Vevey costs 10 CHF for a 20-minute boat ride in second class).

Stand-up paddleboarding: Rent a SUP board along the Montreux Riviera for around 20 CHF/hour.

Thermal baths: Les Bains de la Gruyère in Charmey cost only 26 CHF for three hours, which is pretty reasonably priced! The Gellért Thermal Baths in Budapest are 20 EUR (~22 CHF), for example, so given how expensive Switzerland is compared to Hungary, relaxing at these thermal baths is a nice moderate-budget option. (Remember to bring cash for the 5 CHF returnable wristband deposit.)

Transportation

Use the SBB app in Switzerland to purchase bus, boat and train tickets. You can also use ticket machines at the different stations, but the app will show you all the stops on each route and also provides accurate real-time information for arrivals and departures. (Although Swiss transportation almost always runs exactly on time!)

Sample costs for non-resident adults:

A two-zone ticket (for example, from Montreux to Vevey) is 3.70 CHF. This includes use of the buses and trains in these zones.

A point-to-point train ticket from Montreux to Lausanne (to visit the Olympic Museum) is around 13 CHF. You can also purchase a “supersaver” ticket that is only valid at a specific time; you typically have to purchase your tickets in advance to get the supersaver option.

Lodging

We stayed in Montreux for free (thanks, Mom!), but the average cost of a private room for two in September is $102 USD (according to Airbnb, though I saw many good options for closer to $70/night). Booking.com also offers several options in the Montreux area for around $110 USD/night (mostly hotel or hostel rooms).

Conclusion

Given the above sample costs, I would recommend budgeting at least 110 CHF per person per day to travel comfortably if visiting the Lake Geneva area. This assumes you are sharing a private room, eating out twice per day, drinking a limited amount of alcohol, taking some public transportation (but mostly walking) and doing up to one “activity” per day. Of course, you can spend more (or less!) than this estimated daily budget depending on your travel style and preferences.

When creating your trip budget, don’t forget to add the cost of your travel to and from Switzerland, money for gifts or souvenirs if you plan to buy any, and travel insurance if you need it.

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