Zürich is Switzerland's largest city and the capital of the canton of Zürich, set on the northern tip of Lake Zürich where the Limmat river leaves the lake, with the Alps visible on clear days. It combines a medieval old town, world-class museums, lakeside swimming, and the luxury shopping of Bahnhofstrasse with famously punctual public transport and very high prices.
Local currency: Swiss franc (CHF).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Zürich.
- Mid-range
- CHF 300/day ($375)
- Luxury
- CHF 700+/day ($875+)
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- CHF 45-75 ($56-94)
- Budget
- CHF 120-180 ($150-225)
- Midrange
- CHF 200-320 ($250-400)
- Luxury
- CHF 450-900 ($563-1,125)
Food
- Street
- CHF 7-13 ($9-16)
- Local
- CHF 22-38 ($28-48)
- Midrange
- CHF 50-85 ($63-106)
- Fine
- CHF 150-300 ($188-375)
Transport
- Bus
- CHF 2.70-4.60 ($3.40-5.75) per single ticket in the city zone
- Taxi
- CHF 20-40 ($25-50)
- Airport
- CHF 7-8 ($9-10) by S-Bahn or train in about 12 minutes
- Daytrip
- CHF 20-80 ($25-100)
Activities
- Museum
- CHF 10-30 ($12.50-38)
- Sites
- CHF 0-15 ($0-19)
- Tour
- CHF 25-60 ($31-75)
- Excursion
- CHF 40-110 ($50-138)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Zürich costs end-to-end.
Weekend escape
A short city break covering essentials and a few highlights.
One-week tour
Comfortable pace including major attractions and day trips.
Two-week explorer
In-depth exploration covering multiple regions.
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Travel in shoulder season — fewer crowds and significantly lower accommodation rates.
Use public transport instead of taxis where possible. Day passes often pay for themselves after 3 trips.
Eat where locals eat — markets and neighbourhood eateries offer better food at a fraction of tourist-strip prices.
Book accommodation with kitchen access for longer stays so you can self-cater some meals.