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Cost of living in Locarno
Rent, everyday prices and the gross salary you may need to cover living costs in Locarno.
One person, a month
CHF 1,343
Living costs excluding rent
Family of four, a month
CHF 4,743
Living costs excluding rent
One-bedroom rent, centre
CHF 895
A month
Gross salary, one person
CHF 29,000
to cover living costs in Locarno
Locarno's cost of living at a glance
Locarno is the cheapest city in Switzerland but one of the most expensive cities in Europe. The estimated monthly costs for a single person in Locarno are CHF 1,343, excluding rent. Living costs for a family of four are CHF 4,743 a month, excluding rent.
A single person in Locarno may need a gross salary of at least CHF 29,000 a year to cover estimated living costs, renting a one-bedroom apartment outside the centre and saving nothing.
One person's monthly costs
Numbeo household estimate in CHF, with the rent of a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre
Source: Numbeo, 1 June 2026.
How Locarno compares
One person's monthly costs in Locarno, excluding rent, are 12.7% lower than in the typical city in Switzerland and 80.7% higher than in the typical city worldwide.
Where Locarno ranks
In Switzerland
19th of 19
One person's monthly costs including rent, most expensive first.
In Europe
103rd of 874
Cities in Europe with a Numbeo estimate, most expensive first.
Worldwide
83rd percentile
Costs the same as or more than 83% of 1,942 cities: a relatively expensive city.
One-bedroom rent, centre
19th of 19
Cities in Switzerland, most expensive first.
Monthly costs against the typical city
- Locarno
- Typical national city
- Typical city worldwide
Tap a line or a table row to read its three amounts.
| Monthly cost | Locarno | Typical national city | Typical city worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | CHF 895 | CHF 1,579 −43.3% | CHF 612 +46.2% |
| Groceries | CHF 427 | CHF 538 −20.6% | CHF 232 +84.3% |
| Eating out | CHF 304 | CHF 289 +5.2% | CHF 130 +133.3% |
| Transport | CHF 84.22 | CHF 86.33 −2.4% | CHF 32.98 +155.4% |
| Utilities | CHF 249 | CHF 249 0.0% | CHF 144 +73.1% |
| Leisure | CHF 89.49 | CHF 128 −29.9% | CHF 51.10 +75.1% |
| Total excluding rent | CHF 1,343 | CHF 1,539 −12.7% | CHF 743 +80.7% |
| Total including rent | CHF 2,238 | CHF 3,083 −27.4% | CHF 1,380 +62.2% |
Typical = the median of 19 cities in Switzerland and 1,942 cities worldwide.
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Explore prices in Locarno
The average price for each item, and the range from the lowest to the highest price people have reported.
Renting in Locarno
Locarno is the cheapest city in Switzerland for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre. The next cheapest city in Switzerland is Sion.
A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre typically costs CHF 895 a month.
Outside the centre, a one-bedroom apartment typically costs CHF 895 a month.
One-bedroom rents are about the same in and outside the city centre.
| Item | Average price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment in the city centre Monthly rent | CHF 895 | Not available |
| 1-bed apartment outside the centre Monthly rent | CHF 895 | Not available |
| 3-bed apartment in the city centre Monthly rent | CHF 2,079 | CHF 1,842– |
| 3-bed apartment outside the centre Monthly rent | CHF 1,921 | CHF 1,842– |
| Price per m² in the city centre | CHF 6,949 | CHF 5,475– |
| Price per m² outside the centre | CHF 5,317 | CHF 4,317– |
Cost of everyday items in Locarno
Groceries in Locarno are around 21% cheaper than the average for Switzerland, while eating out is around 3% more expensive than the country average.
A litre of milk typically costs CHF 1.88.
A 500g loaf of fresh white bread typically costs CHF 2.74.
A pack of 20 cigarettes typically costs CHF 9.47.
| Item | Average price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Milk, 1 litre | CHF 1.88 | CHF 1.58– |
| Fresh white bread, 500g | CHF 2.74 | CHF 1.26– |
| Eggs, 12 large | CHF 6.37 | CHF 3.79– |
| Local cheese, 1kg | CHF 21.93 | CHF 19.48– |
| Chicken fillets, 1kg | CHF 14.22 | CHF 12.63– |
| Beef round, 1kg | CHF 31.32 | CHF 31.06– |
| Apples, 1kg | CHF 2.63 | CHF 2.10– |
| Oranges, 1kg | CHF 1.84 | CHF 1.58– |
| Potatoes, 1kg | CHF 1.10 | CHF 1.06– |
| Lettuce, 1 head | CHF 1.68 | CHF 1.37– |
| White rice, 1kg | CHF 2.69 | CHF 2.10– |
| Tomatoes, 1kg | CHF 3.16 | CHF 2.63– |
| Bananas, 1kg | CHF 1.37 | CHF 1.26– |
| Onions, 1kg | CHF 1.58 | CHF 1.58– |
| Water, 1.5 litre bottle | CHF 1.06 | CHF 0.63– |
| Mid-range bottle of wine | CHF 9.74 | CHF 8.42– |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 litre bottle | CHF 1.87 | CHF 1.37– |
| Imported beer, 0.33 litre bottle | CHF 2.00 | CHF 1.58– |
| Cigarettes, 20 pack | CHF 9.47 | CHF 9.47– |
Eating out in Locarno
| Item | Average price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | CHF 23.69 | CHF 15.79– |
| Three-course meal for two | CHF 126 | CHF 94.75– |
| Fast food combo meal | CHF 15.79 | CHF 14.74– |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 litre draught | CHF 7.37 | CHF 5.26– |
| Imported beer, 0.33 litre bottle | CHF 5.26 | CHF 4.21– |
| Soft drink, 0.33 litre bottle | CHF 4.61 | CHF 3.69– |
| Water, 0.33 litre bottle | CHF 4.03 | CHF 3.69– |
| Cappuccino | CHF 4.42 | CHF 3.16– |
Transport in Locarno
| Item | Average price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| One-way public transport ticket | CHF 2.32 | CHF 2.10– |
| Monthly public transport pass | CHF 84.22 | Not available |
| Gasoline, 1 litre | CHF 1.87 | CHF 1.80– |
| Taxi start | CHF 5.79 | CHF 5.26– |
| Taxi, per km | CHF 2.10 | CHF 2.10–CHF 2.10 |
| Taxi waiting, 1 hour | CHF 68.43 | CHF 68.43–CHF 68.43 |
| Volkswagen Golf, new | CHF 30,427 | CHF 29,479– |
| Toyota Corolla sedan, new | CHF 34,217 | CHF 34,217– |
Utilities in Locarno
| Item | Average price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Basic utilities for an 85m² apartment Monthly | CHF 272 | CHF 211– |
| Broadband internet Monthly | CHF 47.20 | CHF 36.85– |
| Mobile phone plan Monthly | CHF 23.69 | CHF 21.06– |
How is Locarno for families?
A family of four with two adults and two children may need a gross household income of CHF 86,000 a year in Locarno, excluding childcare costs.
Private preschool or kindergarten typically costs CHF 1,263 a month.
A three-bedroom apartment in the city centre typically costs CHF 2,079 a month.
Locarno scores 85/100 on Numbeo's safety index.
| Item | Average price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Family of four, excluding rent Monthly, Numbeo household estimate | CHF 4,743 | Not applicable |
| Family of four, including rent Monthly, Numbeo household estimate | CHF 6,823 | Not applicable |
| Private preschool or kindergarten Monthly | CHF 1,263 | CHF 1,263– |
| International primary school Annual | CHF 16,635 | CHF 16,635– |
Leisure and clothing in Locarno
| Item | Average price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Gym membership Monthly | CHF 63.17 | Not available |
| Tennis court rental, 1 hour | CHF 26.32 | Not available |
| Cinema ticket | CHF 17.90 | CHF 15.79– |
| Jeans | CHF 94.75 | CHF 84.22– |
| Summer dress from a chain store | CHF 50.01 | CHF 42.11– |
| Nike running shoes | CHF 91.25 | CHF 78.96– |
| Men's leather business shoes | CHF 103 | CHF 73.70– |
Source: Numbeo, 1 June 2026.
What salary do I need to live in Locarno?
By combining Numbeo's living-cost estimates with the tax rates in Switzerland, we can estimate the gross salary you would need to live in Locarno. Use the calculator below to see how much you would need to live in Locarno, and where your money goes.
Recommended gross salary
CHF 28,779
Needed to support 1 adult and no children in Locarno, living in a one-bedroom apartment outside the centre.
- Take-home pay
- CHF 26,858
- Living costs
- CHF 26,858
- Tax and contributions
- CHF 1,921
Where your salary goes
- Living costsCHF 26,85893.3%
- Income tax and contributionsCHF 1,9216.7%
| Operator | Item | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | CHF 28,779 | |
| − | Income tax and contributions | CHF 1,921 |
| = | Take-home pay | CHF 26,858 |
| − | Rent | CHF 10,739 |
| − | Groceries | CHF 5,122 |
| − | Eating out | CHF 3,651 |
| − | Transport | CHF 1,011 |
| − | Utilities | CHF 2,991 |
| − | Leisure | CHF 1,074 |
| − | Other estimated costs | CHF 2,271 |
| = | Left over: savings target | CHF 0 |
CHF 28,779 gross salary modelled as one employment income gives a 6.7% effective tax rate and CHF 1,921 estimated deductions a year. Use our salary tax calculator for a more detailed estimate.
What the estimate includes
- Rent for your housing choice and Numbeo's household living costs for your household size
- National income tax for 2026
- Employee social contributions, simplified
What it doesn't include
- Regional, state or local income tax
- Joint filing, partner income and household allowances
- Age, pension, expat-regime or special-residency rules
- Bonuses, benefits and other income
- Child care or school unless you choose it
Don't agree with our estimates? Help us improve our cost-of-living model.
How each cost is worked out
Rent. The selected one-bedroom apartment outside the centre in Locarno costs an estimated CHF 895 per month. CHF 895 per month × 12 months = CHF 10,739 a year.
Groceries. Numbeo estimates a household of one person in Locarno spends an estimated CHF 427 on groceries per month. CHF 427 per month × 12 months = CHF 5,122 a year.
Eating out. Numbeo estimates a household of one person in Locarno spends an estimated CHF 304 on eating out per month. CHF 304 per month × 12 months = CHF 3,651 a year.
Transport. Numbeo estimates a household of one person in Locarno spends an estimated CHF 84.22 on transport per month. CHF 84.22 per month × 12 months = CHF 1,011 a year.
Utilities. Numbeo estimates a household of one person in Locarno spends an estimated CHF 249 on utilities per month. CHF 249 per month × 12 months = CHF 2,991 a year.
Leisure. Numbeo estimates a household of one person in Locarno spends an estimated CHF 89.49 on leisure per month. CHF 89.49 per month × 12 months = CHF 1,074 a year.
Other estimated costs. Numbeo's household estimate for miscellaneous costs: this may include things like clothing, shoes and entertainment costs. CHF 189 per month × 12 months = CHF 2,271 a year.
See the prices behind each category · How living costs and salaries are calculated
Tax estimate assumptions
Tax year 2026. One resident employee and one employment income are assumed. Federal income tax only (single taxpayer rates). Cantonal and municipal taxes are NOT included — total effective rate varies widely by location (e.g., ~22% in Zug vs. ~35%+ in Geneva). No personal deductions or allowances applied. Top bracket rate (11.5%) is lower than the preceding bracket (13.2%) due to constitutional maximum.
Important
This calculator gives an estimate of the income needed to cover living costs. It is not tax, legal or financial advice. It uses Numbeo prices as of 1 June 2026, Switzerland's tax rules for 2026 and Wise exchange rates of 21 October 2026, and models one employment income. Check your figures with the salary tax calculator or the official rules in PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries / FTA.
Figures for 1 adult, outside the centre, no savings target.
Cost of living in Locarno: common questions
Is Locarno expensive to live in?
Locarno is the cheapest city in Switzerland but one of the most expensive cities in Europe.
A single person spends about CHF 1,343 a month excluding rent, against CHF 1,539 in the typical city in Switzerland (the median of 19 cities, Numbeo, as of 1 June 2026).
Worldwide, Locarno costs the same as or more than 83% of the 1,942 cities with a Numbeo household estimate, which makes it a relatively expensive city.
What salary do you need to live in Locarno?
A single person may need a gross salary of at least CHF 29,000 a year to cover estimated living costs in Locarno, renting a one-bedroom apartment outside the centre and saving nothing.
This is an estimate from Numbeo prices as of 1 June 2026 and Switzerland's tax rules for 2026. Use the salary calculator to add your household, housing and a savings target.
How much is rent in Locarno?
A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre typically costs CHF 895 a month, and CHF 895 outside the centre, according to Numbeo averages as of 1 June 2026.
A three-bedroom apartment costs about CHF 2,079 a month in the centre and CHF 1,921 outside it.
Locarno is the cheapest city in Switzerland for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre.
How much does a family spend in Locarno?
A family of four spends about CHF 4,743 a month on living costs excluding rent, or CHF 6,823 including rent, according to Numbeo's household estimate as of 1 June 2026.
With two adults earning and a three-bedroom home outside the centre, the household may need a gross income of CHF 86,000 a year, excluding childcare costs.
Private preschool or kindergarten typically costs CHF 1,263 a month per child.
How does Locarno compare with Switzerland's other cities?
Locarno ranks 19th of 19 cities in Switzerland for one person's monthly costs including rent, where 1st is the most expensive.
Excluding rent, one person's costs are 12.7% less than in the typical city in Switzerland.
Where this data comes from
- Living costs and prices
- Numbeo, snapshot of 1 June 2026
- Exchange rates
- Wise mid-market rates, 21 October 2026
- Tax rules
- Expatica salary tax calculator, Switzerland 2026
- Locations and population
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 1 October 2026
- Regions for continent ranks
- UN M49 regions
Important
All amounts are indicative estimates, not quotes or financial advice. Numbeo's prices are reported by users, so coverage and recency vary by city: check rents and prices locally before you commit to a move.
Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you click and make a purchase.
How living costs and salaries are calculated
- Your household size (adults and children, one to six people) picks Numbeo's household estimate for groceries, eating out, transport, utilities, leisure and rent.
- Rent is replaced by the price of a one-bedroom apartment (one or two people) or a three-bedroom apartment (three or more), in or outside the centre. A flatshare, for one adult without children, is a third of a three-bedroom home.
- "Other estimated costs" is Numbeo's household total less the named categories, not a separately reported price. Where a total is below its own categories, we use the categories, and a larger household's costs other than rent are never lower than a smaller household's.
- Child care and school are optional: preschool uses the city's monthly price for each child, international primary school its annual fee spread over 12 months. Children's ages, eligibility and public provision are not modelled.
- The salary is the gross income that leaves these costs, plus your savings target, after tax under Expatica's rules for Switzerland (2026). One adult has one employment income; two adults are two earners splitting it evenly, with no joint filing or household allowances. What the tax model covers is listed with the result.
- Numbeo's figures are in US dollars, converted with one set of Wise mid-market rates. Without them, amounts stay in US dollars and no salary is estimated.
How cities are compared and matched
- A typical city is the median of one person's monthly costs across the 19 cities in Switzerland in this guide and across the 1,942 cities worldwide with a Numbeo household estimate. Each row is its own median, so the rows do not add up.
- Ranks put the most expensive city first, and equal estimates share a rank. The worldwide percentile is the share of those 1,942 cities whose one-person monthly total, rent included, is the same or lower than Locarno's.
- Nearby cities are places in this guide, possibly across a border, by straight-line distance between GeoNames location points.
- Comparable cities are in the same GeoNames population band (under 100,000, 100,000–499,999, 500,000–999,999, or 1 million and above; a neighbouring band, labelled, when a band has too few countries), one per country, outside Switzerland and not already listed as nearby. Population years and boundaries vary, so the bands are rough size guides.
- The match score compares a single person's costs excluding rent and the rent of a central one-bedroom apartment. For each, we divide the lower city's price by the higher; the score is the square root of the two ratios multiplied together, × 100. If both prices are 80% of the other city's, the match is 80%; if both are twice as high, 50%. It measures how close the costs are, not which city is cheaper or how alike they are to live in.