Cost of living in the canton of Lucerne
Living costs in Switzerland are high by international standards (as are wages). Rents and expenditure on daily essentials are comparatively higher, but taxes are slightly lower than in many other countries. The actual cost of living varies greatly depending on a number of factors, including your lifestyle, housing situation and, of course, your individual personal expenses.
The largest cost items in your budget
The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) reports that expenditure on taxes, social security contributions and compulsory health insurance accounts for approximately one quarter of gross household income. The highest item of freely disposable expenditure is housing and energy. After deducting all expenses, the average household is left with about 12% of its total income as savings each month.
Create your own personal budget
Generally speaking, living in the more rural regions of the canton of Lucerne is more affordable than living in the city.
- Use the “Find a place to live” tool from the Economic Development Agency to look for somewhere suitable to live. Look in particular at the net local costs:
Find a place to live | Wirtschaftsförderung Luzern (luzern-business.ch) - Use the budgeting examples and guidelines offered by the umbrella organisation Budgetberatung Schweiz (Budget Advice Service Switzerland), based in Lucerne, for private individuals in different living circumstances:
Budgeting examples(budgetberatung.ch)
Create your personal budget with the Budget Advice Service’s budgeting app:
