Lausanne offers families an excellent quality of life with Lake Geneva access, excellent schools, and lower costs than Geneva. This assessment calculates family living expenses including children's health insurance, larger apartments, and family activities. Home to excellent public and international schools, Lausanne is ideal for families seeking French-speaking education. Calculate your expected monthly expenses to plan your family's move.
Real calculator output for a family in Lausanne
Based on real Swiss cantonal tax logic, housing indices, and mandatory health insurance baselines.
| Category | Monthly Amount | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Monthly Salary | CHF 18’000 | Base salary input for family |
| Taxes (cantonal & federal) | −CHF 4’770to−CHF 6’930 | Canton Vaud: 27%–39% rate |
| Rent (city center) | −CHF 3’120 | Lausanne market rate (3+ bedroom) |
| Health Insurance | −CHF 1’067 | Vaud base premium (includes child premiums) |
| Food & Groceries | −CHF 1’011 | Local price index × 3 occupants |
| Transport | −CHF 72 | Lausanne public transport pass |
| Utilities | −CHF 195 | Adjusted for 3 occupants |
| Lifestyle | −CHF 1’236 | Medium tier × Lausanne multiplier |
| Estimated Monthly Savings | CHF 4’369toCHF 6’529 | Net after all deductions |
Small changes in rent or tax canton can shift monthly savings by several hundred CHF.
Example Scenario: A professional earning CHF 18’000/month in Lausanne retains approximately CHF 4’369–6’529 after all expenses. The same salary in Zürich would retain CHF 4’614–6’414 — Zürich offers CHF 65/month more (CHF 780/year).
Understanding what makes Lausanne unique helps you evaluate if it's the right fit for your relocation.
Compared to Genève, Lausanne offers approximately CHF 1’101 higher monthly savings at the same gross salary. Compared to Bern, housing is higher but overall savings remain competitive.
For professionals weighing Lausanne against Swiss Average, Swiss Average offers lower taxes by approximately CHF 1305/month. However, Lausanne may compensate through other factors like housing or lifestyle costs.
Lausanne vs Swiss Average housing: Lausanne requires CHF 1842/month more for housing than Swiss Average. Families should weigh this against school quality and neighborhood amenities.
Canton Vaud vs Swiss Average: higher premiums than Swiss Average (CHF 470 vs CHF 383 base). Families pay adult premiums plus reduced child rates, multiplying the impact. Choose cantons with lower base premiums to optimize household costs.
Lausanne vs Swiss average: slightly higher food costs than Swiss Average (108% vs 101% of baseline). While individual purchases differ modestly, cumulative grocery and dining expenses add CHF 50–150/month variance between Swiss cities.
Lausanne vs Swiss Average: slightly higher transport costs than Swiss Average (CHF 72 vs CHF 67). With excellent Swiss public transit, most professionals avoid car ownership—a decision that saves CHF 500–800/month versus driving.
Lausanne vs Swiss Average: higher entertainment costs than Swiss Average (1.15× vs 1.02× multiplier). Professionals choosing Lausanne for savings can reallocate CHF 712/month toward lifestyle upgrades or accelerated wealth building.
See how changing city, salary, and household type impacts your real monthly savings.
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