Schaffhausen, home to the Rhine Falls and a growing economic hub in northern Switzerland, offers professionals affordable living with easy access to Zürich. This assessment calculates your expected monthly expenses in this compact canton. With lower rents than Zürich and moderate cantonal taxes, Schaffhausen provides excellent value for professionals commuting to the Zürich area or working locally in manufacturing, services, and tech. Our calculator estimates rent, Canton Schaffhausen taxes, health insurance, and daily costs.
Real calculator output for a single professional in Schaffhausen
Based on real Swiss cantonal tax logic, housing indices, and mandatory health insurance baselines.
| Category | Monthly Amount | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Monthly Salary | CHF 10’000 | Base salary input for single |
| Taxes (cantonal & federal) | −CHF 2’100to−CHF 3’100 | Canton Schaffhausen: 21%–31% rate |
| Rent (city center) | −CHF 1’190 | Schaffhausen market rate (1-bedroom) |
| Health Insurance | −CHF 395 | Schaffhausen base premium |
| Food & Groceries | −CHF 360 | Local price index × 1 occupants |
| Transport | −CHF 68 | Schaffhausen public transport pass |
| Utilities | −CHF 150 | Adjusted for 1 occupants |
| Lifestyle | −CHF 475 | Medium tier × Schaffhausen multiplier |
| Estimated Monthly Savings | CHF 4’262toCHF 5’262 | 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 10’000/month in Schaffhausen retains approximately CHF 4’262–5’262 after all expenses. The same salary in Zürich would retain CHF 3’194–4’194 — Schaffhausen offers CHF 1’068/month more (CHF 12’816/year).
Understanding what makes Schaffhausen unique helps you evaluate if it's the right fit for your relocation.
Compared to Zürich, Schaffhausen offers approximately CHF 1’068 higher monthly savings at the same gross salary. Compared to Winterthur, housing is lower but overall savings remain stronger.
For professionals weighing Schaffhausen against Swiss Average, Swiss Average offers lower taxes by approximately CHF 75/month. However, Schaffhausen may compensate through other factors like housing or lifestyle costs.
Schaffhausen vs Swiss Average housing: Schaffhausen enables CHF 88/month in housing savings compared to Swiss Average. This positions singles to save more while maintaining urban convenience.
Canton Schaffhausen vs Swiss Average: higher premiums than Swiss Average (CHF 395 vs CHF 383 base). Selecting the right plan tier within the canton structure directly impacts monthly budget.
Schaffhausen vs Swiss average: lower food costs than Swiss Average (100% vs 101% of baseline). While individual purchases differ modestly, cumulative grocery and dining expenses add CHF 50–150/month variance between Swiss cities.
Schaffhausen vs Swiss Average: slightly higher transport costs than Swiss Average (CHF 68 vs CHF 67). With excellent Swiss public transit, most professionals avoid car ownership—a decision that saves CHF 500–800/month versus driving.
Schaffhausen vs Swiss Average: lower entertainment costs than Swiss Average (0.95× vs 1.02× multiplier). Professionals choosing Schaffhausen for savings can reallocate CHF 25/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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