Cost Of Living in St. Gallen 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in St. Gallen

Whether you're living in St. Gallen or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in St. Gallen is 3,900 CHF. Expenses can range from 560 CHF at the minimum level to 26,000 CHF at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in St. Gallen is 6,500 CHF. Expenditure can range from 2,200 CHF to 35,000 CHF per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in St. Gallen is 8,700 CHF per month. Families spend anywhere from 3,000 CHF to 56,000 CHF.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in St. Gallen is 2,800 CHF. Students spend from 430 CHF to 19,000 CHF per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in St. Gallen

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in St. Gallen is 73% This means that on average, people spend around 73% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 17% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
66%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

58%

74%

Couple
70%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

61%

78%

Family
77%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

67%

87%

How do people spend their money in St. Gallen?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in St. Gallen typically spend from 15% to 34% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 26% being the average. The average spend on housing is 1,700 CHF with expenditure ranging from 130 CHF to 17,000 CHF. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in St. Gallen ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 280 CHF with 22 CHF and 2,800 CHF being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 43 CHF to 5,600 CHF on commuting with 560 CHF being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 8% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 12%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in St. Gallen is 1,400 CHF. The cost of groceries can range between 110 CHF to 14,000 CHF. People spend on average about 27% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 19% and 33% respectively.

People in St. Gallen allocate 4% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 30 CHF to 3,900 CHF with 390 CHF being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 17 CHF to 2,200 CHF with 220 CHF being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 6% of the monthly expenditure with 4% and 12% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 340 CHF per month with 26 CHF being the minimum spent amount and 3,400 CHF being the maximum.

How much money can you save in St. Gallen every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in St. Gallen manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 69% of the surveyed people in St. Gallen said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 31% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in St. Gallen

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 14% to 32% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 23% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 2,400 CHF on average with savings ranging from 190 CHF to 24,000 CHF.

69% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 64% of couples said the same. 60% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in St. Gallen?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 17% to 34% of their monthly income to savings, with 27% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 1,700 CHF with 190 CHF and 11,000 CHF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 15% to 33% of their monthly income, with 25% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 2,800 CHF with 930 CHF and 15,000 CHF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in St. Gallen can save anywhere between 13% to 29% of their monthly income, with 21% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 3,700 CHF with 1,300 CHF and 24,000 CHF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in St. Gallen

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in St. Gallen. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 17% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 10% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 18% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 11% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in St. Gallen

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in St. Gallen

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in St. Gallen?

Around 78% of surveyed residents think that living in St. Gallen is affordable with proper budgeting while 22% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in St. Gallen

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options60%

Few low-cost options41%

Based on the survey, 60% of the people living in St. Gallen have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 41% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of St. Gallen whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes78%

No22%

Based on the survey, 22% of the people living in St. Gallen said that they don't have an emergency fund while 78% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Switzerland

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy80%

We asked residents of Switzerland whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 20% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 80% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Switzerland have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 10% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 90% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance10%

Easily manages finances90%

Financial goals of people in St. Gallen

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in St. Gallen, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 35% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 8% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 8% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 10% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 10% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in St. Gallen

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in St. Gallen and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Switzerland is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of St. Gallen about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in St. Gallen

Debt, loans, and mortgages in St. Gallen

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 18% of the people in St. Gallen have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 82% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in St. Gallen

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 23% of the people's monthly income in St. Gallen goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in St. Gallen pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 13% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 12% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 14% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 14% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in St. Gallen

12% of debtors in St. Gallen confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 26% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 21% of people and personal loans rose at 38%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in St. Gallen.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in St. Gallen

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of St. Gallen how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in St. Gallen

Rent Cost in St. Gallen

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

510 CHF

770 CHF

2,100 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$580

$870

$2,300

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

770 CHF

1,200 CHF

3,100 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$870

$1,400

$3,500

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,000 CHF

1,500 CHF

4,100 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$1,700

$4,600

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,200 CHF

2,100 CHF

5,600 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,400

$2,300

$6,300

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

2,500 CHF

6,200 CHF

12,000 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,800

$7,000

$14,000

Townhouse monthly rent cost

2,100 CHF

3,100 CHF

8,800 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,300

$3,500

$10,000

House monthly rent cost

2,500 CHF

6,200 CHF

12,000 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,800

$7,000

$14,000

Villa monthly rent cost

3,100 CHF

7,700 CHF

12,000 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3,500

$8,700

$14,000

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in St. Gallen ranges between 510 CHF and 2,100 CHF, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 770 CHF to 3,100 CHF. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,000 CHF and 4,100 CHF per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1,200 CHF to 5,600 CHF. The average rent of a townhouse in St. Gallen is around 3,100 CHF while house rental costs can be as high as 6,200 CHF per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 3,100 CHF to 12,000 CHF per month.

Apartment and house prices in St. Gallen

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

100,000 CHF

150,000 CHF

310,000 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$170,000

$350,000

1-bedroom apartment price

120,000 CHF

210,000 CHF

770,000 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140,000

$230,000

$870,000

2-bedroom apartment price

210,000 CHF

620,000 CHF

1.2M CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230,000

$700,000

$1.4M

3-bedroom apartment price

690,000 CHF

1M CHF

3.1M CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$770,000

$1.2M

$3.5M

Townhouse price

880,000 CHF

2.1M CHF

7.7M CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,000,000

$2.3M

$8.7M

House price

1M CHF

6.2M CHF

8.8M CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2M

$7M

$10M

Villa price

1.2M CHF

6.9M CHF

10M CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4M

$7.7M

$12M

The average price of a studio apartment in St. Gallen can range from 100,000 CHF to 310,000 CHF depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 120,000 CHF to 770,000 CHF. A villa can cost you 6.9M CHF on average with prices ranging from 1.2M CHF to 10M CHF.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in St. Gallen can be x137 to x210 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x137 multiples of the average monthly salary in St. Gallen.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in St. Gallen is around 32%. This means that people pay 32% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 41% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in St. Gallen

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in St. Gallen

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

33 CHF

230 CHF

1,600 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$38

$260

$1,800

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

87 CHF

290 CHF

1,900 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$98

$330

$2,100

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

150 CHF

430 CHF

2,800 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170

$490

$3,200

Internet and cable cost

32 CHF

64 CHF

86 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$36

$73

$97

Mobile phone bill and charges

26 CHF

43 CHF

130 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$29

$49

$150

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in St. Gallen ranges between 33 CHF and 1,600 CHF with average being 230 CHF, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 290 CHF with 87 CHF and 1,900 CHF being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 430 CHF. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 32 CHF to 86 CHF with 64 CHF being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 43 CHF but can range between 26 CHF and 130 CHF depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in St. Gallen is around 3.7%. This means that people pay 3.7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 0.90% to 7.3% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in St. Gallen

Prices and cost of goods and services in St. Gallen

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

6.4 CHF

13 CHF

21 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.3

$15

$24

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in St. Gallen is approximatly 13 CHF with meal cost ranging from 6.4 CHF to 21 CHF. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

21 CHF

32 CHF

63 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$24

$36

$71

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 21 CHF and 63 CHF with 32 CHF being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in St. Gallen.

Fine dining meal for one price

42 CHF

63 CHF

250 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$47

$71

$280

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 42 CHF to 250 CHF with the average cost being 63 CHF for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in St. Gallen.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

5.4 CHF

8.6 CHF

13 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.1

$9.7

$15

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in St. Gallen is around 8.6 CHF. Price ranges between 5.4 CHF and 13 CHF depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

4.3 CHF

5.2 CHF

6.4 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.9

$5.8

$7.3

The average price of a large bottle of milk in St. Gallen is 5.2 CHF. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 6.4 CHF and the minimum being 4.3 CHF depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

3.2 CHF

4.3 CHF

6.4 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.6

$4.9

$7.3

A dozen eggs costs around 4.3 CHF on average with 3.2 CHF and 6.4 CHF being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

7.3 CHF

9.5 CHF

13 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.3

$11

$15

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in St. Gallen is between 7.3 CHF and 13 CHF depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 9.5 CHF.

Pack of beef price

8.6 CHF

13 CHF

26 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9.7

$15

$29

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 13 CHF. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

3.5 CHF

4.7 CHF

6.7 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.9

$5.3

$7.6

A bag of rice in St. Gallen costs around 4.7 CHF on average with prices rangeing between 3.5 CHF and 6.7 CHF depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

1.3 CHF

1.7 CHF

3.2 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$1.9

$3.6

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.3 CHF to 3.2 CHF. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

2.3 CHF

3 CHF

5 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.6

$3.4

$5.6

A bag of apples costs 3 CHF on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in St. Gallen is around 22%. This means that people spend 22% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 15% to 28% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 620 CHF per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 89 CHF and 4,200 CHF depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 910 CHF per month. That number can be get as low as 300 CHF or a high as 4,800 CHF. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 550 CHF to 10,000 CHF with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in St. Gallen

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in St. Gallen

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in St. Gallen

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in St. Gallen