Cost of Living in Lausanne, Switzerland: A 2023 Guide

Lausanne is a lovely city in Western Europe that is widely regarded as one of the best locations to live in Switzerland. The city is teeming with life and activity, with 138,905 people. If you’re considering moving to Switzerland, Lausanne is a great place to start. It’s a lovely city with a great level of life and a diverse culture. Living in Lausanne is a dream come true, with its gorgeous architecture and scenic surroundings. Despite its wealth, life in Lausanne can be reasonable if you manage your finances carefully. Read this blog to find the average cost of living in Lausanne. (October 2023 Updated)

Must Read: A Guide on Cost of Living in Switzerland

Why Choose Lausanne to Study Abroad?

Lausanne is the fourth-largest city in Switzerland by population and is located in one of the country’s fastest-expanding metropolitan districts. It has also been ranked at =19 position in the QS Best Student Cities ranking. Before finding the cost of living in Lausanne, read why you should choose to study here in the first place:

• The wealth of nature surrounding Lausanne is evident upon arrival. The natural beauty is unparalleled and a clear standout for students looking to reside in a lovely city with so much variation.
• For sports fans, Lausanne has been the official capital of the Olympic Games since 1994. It houses the Olympic countdown clock as well as the official Olympic Museum. 
• Furthermore, it is the home of over 50 sports federations, making it an ideal location for students to participate in several sports or even pursue a sporting career.
• A rich, stable economy, combined with a faultless healthcare system, aids the population in maintaining a high quality of life.
• Lausanne is home to some of the world’s greatest higher education institutes in certain specialities. It is known as the ‘European Capital of Sports’ for a reason: AISTS, the world’s greatest sports management school. Lausanne is also home to the world’s greatest hospitality management school. We’re talking about the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, the world’s leading hotel management training institution!

Must Read: Study in Switzerland: Universities, Courses, Cost for Indians

Cost of Living in Lausanne

Now that you have ample reasons to study in this beautiful city, here is the breakdown of the cost of Living in Lausanne. Read this to plan and manage your finances better.

Accommodation/ Housing

Rent Per Month	Average Price
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,622.00 Fr.
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,255.38 Fr.
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	3,309.09 Fr.
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	2,575.00 Fr.
Buy Apartment Price	Average Price
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre	13,750.00 Fr.
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	8,903.25 Fr.

Food/ Restaurants

Restaurants	Average Price
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	25.00 Fr.
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	120.00 Fr.
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	15.00 Fr.
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)	8.00 Fr.
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)	6.00 Fr.
Cappuccino (regular)	4.69 Fr.
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)	4.18 Fr.
Water (0.33 liter bottle)	3.85 Fr.
Markets	Average Price
Milk (regular), (1 liter)	1.72 Fr.
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)	2.84 Fr.
Rice (white), (1kg)	3.21 Fr.
Eggs (regular) (12)	6.05 Fr.
Local Cheese (1kg)	21.33 Fr.
Chicken Fillets (1kg)	23.17 Fr.
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	54.10 Fr.
Apples (1kg)	4.27 Fr.
Banana (1kg)	2.12 Fr.
Oranges (1kg)	2.88 Fr.
Tomato (1kg)	4.06 Fr.
Potato (1kg)	2.09 Fr.
Onion (1kg)	2.46 Fr.
Lettuce (1 head)	2.19 Fr.
Water (1.5-liter bottle)	1.17 Fr.
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	12.50 Fr.

Utility Bills

Utilities (Monthly)	Average Price
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment	300.31 Fr.
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	58.33 Fr.
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	52.66 Fr.

Entertainment/ Recreation

Sports And Leisure	Average Price
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	81.08 Fr.
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	37.50 Fr.
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	20.00 Fr.
Clothing And Shoes	Average Price
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	106.75 Fr.
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …)	51.75 Fr.
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	135.00 Fr.
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	159.88 Fr.

Transportation

Transportation	Average Price
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	3.70 Fr.
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	74.00 Fr.
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	7.00 Fr.
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)	2.80 Fr.
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	54.00 Fr.
Gasoline (1 litre)	2.06 Fr.
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	38,000.00 Fr.
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	31,561.14 Fr.

Must Read: Cost of Living in Bern: A Guide

Average Tuition Fees in Lausanne

Lausanne, despite its beauty, can be expensive. Switzerland is known as one of Europe’s most costly countries, with a high cost of living, which explains why it ranks 82nd in terms of affordability.

Despite the high cost of living, university tuition in Lausanne is quite low when compared to other European countries. The average tuition for international students is roughly $1,500 USD. This compares to the average price of $24,400 in London and $2,400 in Paris.

Must Read: Scholarships in Switzerland for Indian Students

Things to Consider Before Moving to Lausanne

Now that you have an idea of the average cost that you’ll have to bear every month while living in Lausanne, here are some other things to consider before you finally move here. Read this to be prepared beforehand.

• For a city of roughly 150,000 people, Lausanne boasts excellent public transit. Now, public transportation in Lausanne is not cheap. If you live here, you can purchase transport cards to assist in covering the cost. Even so, the price is high.

• If you don’t know anyone in Lausanne—and you probably won’t until you’ve lived here for a while and made an effort to get involved in the community—Lausanne will feel extremely, really boring. And also lonely.

Outside of the bar and nightclub scene, the city becomes very quiet after work hours, very early on Saturdays (about 6 p.m., to be honest), and all day Sunday (when most commercial places close).

• Aside from the public transit (described above), Switzerland in general—and Lausanne in particular—is an expensive place to live in.

Though the earnings of those working here are higher than those in France, where life is less expensive, they are not comparable with the increasing expense of living. To put it another way, even with Swiss wages, the cost of living in Lausanne is exorbitant.

• Lausanne, being a smaller city in an already tiny market, has fewer options when it comes to products and even service providers. Most enterprises in the French-speaking part of the country, if they enter the market at all, go to Geneva. Why? Yes, Geneva is larger, but it also has more tourists, international residents, and high-income locals.

• Lausanne’s weather is moderate and pleasant. While most tourists think of Switzerland as cold and dry, Lausanne’s location in a valley near Lake Geneva, Europe’s largest lake, means it stays rather warm year-round and has a little bit more humidity than other locations, which can feel very dry.

Must Read: Reasons for Switzerland Student Visa Rejection

FAQs

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