List of things that are generally normal prices or cheap in Switzerland

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
21
Computer components are cheaper than anywhere else in Europe and often comparable to US prices when bought from one of the many drop-shipping online retailers (toppreise.ch is your friend! ).

22
Not if you're studying at USI

http://www.crus.ch/information-progr...rland.html?L=2

23
I saw in the Globus, Balvenie 21 year Port Wood cask for 150 CHF, Just before I came over I checked in Seattle and it was over 200 bucks.

I was buying Lindt chocolate in Seattle for 2.50 to 3.50 a bar, it's the same price here, I thought it might be cheaper.

24
Public transport and electricity stand out for me.

25
Money from the bank for home loans in Switzerland is about a third of what it is in Australia, thats thousands saved per month

26
Spices. It what we buy for all our visitors.

27
what I also liked staying in the hotel at Geneva, that they provide you with free publick transport ticket. Which is very convenient & sometimes even pleasant, since city yellow boats also included: )

28
Old records at flea markets and second hand shops, same for some vintage furniture and decoration from the sixties and the seventies. Much more expensive in Italy.

One example: here I paid an italian record from the early 80s 5 CHF and in Italy it goes for 15 EUR or more.

29
Given the number of posts talking about how expensive it apparently is here its time for the competing post. It may not be as popular but here is trying.

- Technology items such as Ipads, tablets, PCs vs th UK - 20-25% cheaper

- Cameras good quality SlR styles and lenses 20-25% cheaper

- Sporting equipment vs Australia similar and for good quality stuff 30-40% cheaper

- Access to Germany to buy at massively reduced prices - priceless

- Alcohol in supermarkets - cheap (in fact 20% under the duty free prices in Sydney) vs alcohol in restraurant (expensive) explaining the increasing problem with drinking at home

- Autobahn vignette vs tollways in southern europe - super cheap and not even worth comparing

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Overall if shop in the correct shops its pretty reasonable. Compare to locations like UK or USA is difficult due to market size and pricing systems that encourage waste ane excess buying as both are just too cheap for the good of the economy.

30

Totally agree Wallabies. Yes, some things are more expensive but we’ve found that overall electronic stuff tends to be cheaper than the UK. We can never understand people shopping over the border in France because the couple of supermarkets we’ve visited have been around 20-30% higher for many things compared to Switzerland. We don’t smoke, but again cigs are a lot cheaper here than in the UK. You just have to do your research and you can find very good bargains here.

31
One way air tickets to Oz.

32
Just be careful not to shop there as the past 5 years has seen costs escalate dramatically there now. Most aussies find england a shoppers paradise now even without sales

33
Some spices in CH are cheaper than in say Germany.

List of things that are generally normal prices or cheap in Switzerland

34
Shoes especially when sales are on at places like Schuhe Paradise and Dosenbach are heaps cheaper and often similar to UK

Skiing and being anle to go for a day trip ski so no need to have accomodation included just eat smart and avoid the rip off mountain top restaurant prices and this is a most affordable activity in winter. Altough Austria does out do the swiss in this department by making the entire package for skiing much ore affordable

35
I find that some brand product like "Ariel" washing product and "Dove" body cream are cheaper than in Spain or Italy and that their is less difference between the brand product price and a no-brand.

Highway are cheaper as you pay only a flat fee (the "vignette") once a year.

36
I've found that routine veterinary care is quite a bit less expensive here (SZ/ZH/ZG) compared to what I paid in Chicago - and I'm remembering Chicago prices of many years ago. Even specialist, emergency and ICU care is at least no more expensive - and top notch veterinary care is far more accessible here as well.

Considering that's where much of my disposable income goes... a significant savings here in Helvetia.

37
mobile and fixed line phones seem to be cheaper than Australia.

Swiss potatoes, carrots, and cheapest brands of chocolate are very good quality and cheap!

Fresh air and plenty of kid-friendly places that are free.

We love that the river boat/ferry in Zurich is covered in the public transport zone, and that we pay 30chf for our kids to travel with us for free, for an entire year.

And the second-hand shopping, charity stores and flea markets give an enormous range of high quality items for a fraction of the new price. Plenty of bargains to be found.

38
Oh, and the dentist and doctor are no more expensive than what we would pay in Sydney.

39
Migros and Denner Espresso coffee (ground or beans).

Usually better value and often better tasting than what's on offer in the UK.

I usually bring a couple of coffee packs if heading home for a while, and tea bags on the return trip.

40
Like meloncollie, i've found routine vet care to be less expensive than the US.

Doctors are often less expensive than in the US. Meds are pretty much the same. In the US, you have a dizzying array of copayments for drugs and procedures, where here it's a flat 10%, often less than the copay for a comparable treatment in the US. Mammography and MRI are less expensive, in my experience.

And although you pay for insurance here, the cost of adding a family member on to an employer-sponsored health insurance in the US can be more than the monthly cost of health insurance for an individual in Switzerland.

But, like anything else, ymmv.