Where do people in Zurich buy groceries?
Most day-to-day shopping in Zurich happens at neighbourhood supermarkets and discount chains, with bakeries and butchers for fresh items. Weekly produce markets at Helvetiaplatz, Bürkliplatz and in Oerlikon are held on set mornings, with farmers from the region selling vegetables, cheese, bread and flowers.
Because most shops close on Sundays, the shopping area beneath Zurich main station is where many people buy groceries on Sundays and late in the evening. Supermarkets often reduce prices on bread, dairy and ready meals close to their sell-by date, usually with stickers applied later in the day.
How do you pay for transport and small daily spends in Zurich?
Trams, buses, S-Bahn trains and lake boats in Zurich share one zone-based fare system, so a single ticket or day pass covers all of them within the zones you pay for. Tickets come from machines or the official transport app, and a day pass is often simpler if you make several trips. Tickets are checked at random, and fines are steep.
Coffee, a bakery sandwich and a set lunch are where visitors notice prices most, and many people save by buying lunch from supermarket ready-meal counters. Tap water and the city's public fountains are drinkable. Service is included in Swiss bills, so tipping is optional, though rounding up is common.
How do Zurich prices differ from the rest of Switzerland?
Supermarket prices in Zurich are close to those elsewhere in Switzerland, because the large chains often apply the same prices nationally. The difference shows in restaurants, bars and services: the city centre around Bahnhofstrasse and the old town tends to charge more than outer districts or smaller towns.
To stretch a budget, shop at discount supermarkets, look for reduced stickers later in the day, buy a day pass if you travel a lot, and use the price table on this page to see the everyday items we read.
What things cost in Zurich
| Product | Local product name | Price per unit | Pack sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk - 1 L | UHT milk, full fat | CHF 1.80 / 1 L | 1 L |
| Eggs - 10 pieces | Free-range or organic eggs | CHF 6.53 / 10 pieces | 10 pieces |
| Rice - 1 kg | White rice, standard | CHF 2.13 / 1 kg | 1 kg |
| Pasta - 500 g | Dried pasta | CHF 1.20 / 0.5 kg | 1 kg, 500 g |
| Bread - 500 g | White sliced bread | CHF 1.65 / 0.5 kg | 620 g, 560 g |
| Cooking oil - 1 L | Sunflower oil | CHF 4.70 / 1 L | 1 L, 500 ml |
| Chicken - 1 kg | Whole fresh chicken | CHF 5.90 / 1 kg | 1 kg |
| Beef - 1 kg | Boneless beef (cubes / cuts) | CHF 42.00 / 1 kg | 100 g |
| Ground beef - 1 kg | Ground beef | CHF 18.25 / 1 kg | 100 g |
| Potatoes - 1 kg | Potatoes | CHF 1.78 / 1 kg | 2.5 kg, 1 kg |
| Tomatoes - 1 kg | Tomatoes | CHF 5.09 / 1 kg | 1 kg, 600 g |
| Onions - 1 kg | Onions | CHF 1.60 / 1 kg | 1 kg, 2 kg |
| Bananas - 1 kg | Bananas | CHF 2.73 / 1 kg | 1 kg |
| Apples - 1 kg | Apples, Gala | CHF 2.80 / 1 kg | 1 kg |
| Oranges - 1 kg | Oranges | CHF 3.73 / 1 kg | 1.5 kg |
| Yogurt - 1 kg | Plain full-fat yogurt | CHF 2.25 / 1 kg | 500 g |
| Drinking water - 1.5 L | Bottled drinking water | CHF 0.95 / 1.5 L | 9 L |
| Shampoo - 400 ml | Shampoo | CHF 4.26 / 0.4 L | 500 ml, 250 ml |
| Shower gel - 400 ml | Shower gel | CHF 5.60 / 0.4 L | 250 ml |
| Bar soap - 100 g | Bar soap | CHF 2.30 / 0.1 kg | 100 g |
| Liquid soap - 500 ml | Liquid soap | CHF 2.89 / 0.5 L | 1,000 ml, 500 ml |
| Toothpaste - 100 ml | Toothpaste | CHF 6.90 / 0.1 L | 75 ml |
| Toothbrush - 1 piece | Toothbrush | CHF 2.30 / 1 piece | 2 pieces, 1 piece |
| Deodorant - 150 ml | Deodorant | CHF 4.85 / 0.15 L | 150 ml |
| Toilet paper - 4 rolls | Toilet paper | CHF 2.12 / 4 pieces | 12 pieces |
| Paper towels - 2 rolls | Paper towels | CHF 1.59 / 2 pieces | 6 pieces, 4 pieces |
| Laundry detergent - 1.5 L | Laundry detergent | CHF 5.57 / 1.5 L | 2 L |
| Dishwashing liquid - 500 ml | Dishwashing liquid | CHF 0.82 / 0.5 L | 1 L, 750 ml |
| Multi-purpose cleaner - 1 L | Multi-purpose cleaner | CHF 3.25 / 1 L | 1 L |
| Trash bags - 20 pieces | Trash bags | CHF 3.40 / 20 pieces | 20 pieces |
| Basic cotton T-shirt - 1 piece | Basic cotton T-shirt | CHF 9.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Jeans - 1 pair | Jeans | CHF 32.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Trousers - 1 pair | Chino or cotton trousers | CHF 27.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Shorts - 1 pair | Shorts | CHF 22.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Socks - 3-pack | Socks | CHF 12.44 / 3 pieces | 2 pieces, 3 pieces |
| Casual sneakers - 1 pair | Casual sneakers | CHF 29.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Towel - 50 x 90 cm | Towel | CHF 4.22 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Basic jacket - 1 piece | Padded winter jacket | CHF 49.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Single bed linen set - 1 set | Single bed linen set | CHF 10.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Pillow - 1 piece | Pillow | CHF 5.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Blanket - 1 piece | Blanket | CHF 3.45 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Frying pan - 24 cm | Frying pan | CHF 7.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Cooking pot - 24 cm | Cooking pot | CHF 9.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| LED bulb - 9W | LED bulb | CHF 4.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Shirt - 1 piece | Basic long-sleeve shirt | CHF 25.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Gloves - 1 pair | Knitted or fleece gloves | CHF 17.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Beanie - 1 piece | Knitted beanie | CHF 12.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Boots - 1 pair | Ankle boots | CHF 49.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Women's dress - 1 piece | Women's everyday dress | CHF 22.95 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
Compared with the other cities
US dollar prices for 49 products that we also have in at least three other cities. The percentage shows the difference from the average of those cities.
Lower in Zurich
- Dishwashing liquid - 500 ml$1.00-35%
- Blanket - 1 piece$4.21-27%
- Cooking pot - 24 cm$12.15-13%
- Multi-purpose cleaner - 1 L$3.97-11%
- Single bed linen set - 1 set$13.37-6%
Higher in Zurich
- Eggs - 10 pieces$7.98+276%
- Beef - 1 kg$51.29+206%
- Gloves - 1 pair$21.92+171%
- Toothpaste - 100 ml$8.43+171%
- Bar soap - 100 g$2.81+156%
- Tomatoes - 1 kg$6.22+151%
Local product types can differ between cities. The comparison tool only matches the same product type.
Compare Zurich with another country
Same budget, same products: see where your money goes further.
Insights and guides about Zurich
All articles →Travel and life in Zurich
Pictures of Zurich
How these prices were read
Prices come from public shop pages and haven't been independently verified. The Data & methodology page has the details. Data & methodology
Try your own budget
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Questions people ask
What is the price of milk in Zurich?
The local shop price we read on November 8, 2026 was CHF 1.80 per 1 L, about $2.20 at that day's reference rate.
What is the price of eggs in Zurich?
The local shop price we read on November 8, 2026 was CHF 6.53 per 10 pieces, about $7.98 at that day's reference rate.
What is the price of rice in Zurich?
The local shop price we read on November 8, 2026 was CHF 2.13 per 1 kg, about $2.60 at that day's reference rate.
How much is US$100 in Swiss franc?
At the reference rate of November 8, 2026, US$100 comes to about CHF 81.88.
Which products cost less in Zurich than in the other cities?
By dollar price, the clearest gaps are dishwashing liquid (-35%), blanket (-27%), and cooking pot (-13%).
Where can I buy groceries on a Sunday in Zurich?
On Sundays most supermarkets in Zurich are closed, but the shops in and beneath Zurich main station open every day, including Sundays and late evenings. Some smaller shops at other stations and petrol stations in Zurich also open on Sundays with a limited range.
Do you need to tip in Zurich?
Tipping is not required in Zurich because service is included in restaurant and bar prices in Switzerland. Many people in Zurich round up the bill or add a small amount for good service, but it is optional.
Where do these prices come from?
Prices come from public shop pages and haven't been independently verified. The Data & methodology page has the details.
