Thurgau offers couples affordable lakeside living with good access to Zürich and Winterthur. This assessment calculates combined expenses for two adults. With lower housing costs and moderate taxes, Thurgau provides excellent value for couples seeking quality of life near Lake Constance.
Real calculator output for a couple in Thurgau
Based on real Swiss cantonal tax logic, housing indices, and mandatory health insurance baselines.
| Category | Monthly Amount | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Monthly Salary | CHF 16’000 | Base salary input for couple |
| Taxes (cantonal & federal) | −CHF 3’840to−CHF 5’440 | Canton Thurgau: 24%–34% rate |
| Rent (city center) | −CHF 1’600 | Thurgau market rate (2-bedroom) |
| Health Insurance | −CHF 760 | Thurgau base premium |
| Food & Groceries | −CHF 698 | Local price index × 2 occupants |
| Transport | −CHF 65 | Thurgau public transport pass |
| Utilities | −CHF 173 | Adjusted for 2 occupants |
| Lifestyle | −CHF 690 | Medium tier × Thurgau multiplier |
| Estimated Monthly Savings | CHF 6’574toCHF 8’174 | 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 16’000/month in Thurgau retains approximately CHF 6’574–8’174 after all expenses. The same salary in Zürich would retain CHF 4’662–6’262 — Thurgau offers CHF 1’912/month more (CHF 22’944/year).
Understanding what makes Thurgau unique helps you evaluate if it's the right fit for your relocation.
Compared to Zürich, Thurgau offers approximately CHF 1’912 higher monthly savings at the same gross salary. Compared to St. Gallen, housing is lower but overall savings remain stronger.
For professionals weighing Thurgau against Swiss Average, Swiss Average offers lower taxes by approximately CHF 600/month. However, Thurgau may compensate through other factors like housing or lifestyle costs.
Thurgau vs Swiss Average housing: Thurgau requires CHF 322/month more for housing than Swiss Average. Couples sharing costs may find this trade-off acceptable for career benefits.
Canton Thurgau vs Swiss Average: lower premiums than Swiss Average (CHF 380 vs CHF 383 base). Couples pay double premiums, amplifying canton differences. Choose cantons with lower base premiums to optimize household costs.
Thurgau vs Swiss average: lower food costs than Swiss Average (97% vs 101% of baseline). While individual purchases differ modestly, cumulative grocery and dining expenses add CHF 50–150/month variance between Swiss cities.
Thurgau vs Swiss Average: lower transport costs than Swiss Average (CHF 65 vs CHF 67). With excellent Swiss public transit, most professionals avoid car ownership—a decision that saves CHF 500–800/month versus driving.
Thurgau vs Swiss Average: lower entertainment costs than Swiss Average (0.92× vs 1.02× multiplier). Professionals choosing Thurgau for savings can reallocate CHF 2637/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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