Living costs in Geneva, Switzerland
City-specific institutional guidance
🇨🇭 Plan your fellowship stay in CHF and compare it in your preferred currency.
View 15 program listings for Geneva ↗Fellowship Directory count imported 2026-10-12; availability can change.
Monthly cost evidence
UNIGE student budget. Student housing and insurance eligibility are not guaranteed for visiting fellows. The insurance entry is a minimum, not a complete range. Source period: Undated live guidance. Checked 2026-10-12.
| Category | Monthly figure (CHF) | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | CHF 700.00 · point estimatePublished student rent allowance | Source ↗Undated live guidance · checked 2026-10-12 |
| Food & daily needs | CHF 600.00 · point estimateFood and daily needs | Source ↗Undated live guidance · checked 2026-10-12 |
| Transport | CHF 70.00 · point estimateAge 25+ transport allowance; younger residents may qualify for different fares | Source ↗Undated live guidance · checked 2026-10-12 |
| Utilities & phone | CHF 130.00 · point estimateUtilities and telephone | Source ↗Undated live guidance · checked 2026-10-12 |
| Personal & leisure | CHF 250.00 · point estimateClothing and leisure | Source ↗Undated live guidance · checked 2026-10-12 |
| Health insurance | From CHF 80.00 · upper bound pendingFrom CHF 80; individual eligibility and coverage must be checked | Source ↗Undated live guidance · checked 2026-10-12 |
Point estimates are single published allowances, not ranges. Minimums have no researched upper bound. National and regional benchmarks do not establish local prices. Partial categories need additional quotes.
Before accepting a fellowship in Geneva
UNIGE guidance assumes access to student-priced housing. A fellowship visitor may need a higher private-market rent. Insurance depends on eligibility; replace this allowance with your quote.
Ask your host about accommodation eligibility, health coverage and visa requirements. Confirm whether your stipend is gross or net, when the first payment arrives, and which costs are paid directly. Budget separately for deposits, travel and one-off arrival costs.
Check local services and requirements
Official links and search starting points are labelled separately. Resource links do not substantiate a cost unless cited in the evidence table.
Housing
- UNIGE housing guidance ↗Host guidance · eligibility varies
- Flatshare search ↗Longer stays · choose your city on the provider
- Booking.com · Geneva ↗Short stays · compare dates and total price
Food & daily needs
- Find supermarkets & grocery prices ↗Web search · results not vetted
Transport
- TPG · tickets & passes ↗Official website · check eligibility and current prices
- Find local operators & monthly passes ↗Web search · results not vetted
Utilities & phone
- Compare mobile & internet plans ↗Web search · results not vetted
- Check electricity & water costs ↗Web search · results not vetted
Personal & leisure
- Check activities & membership prices ↗Web search · results not vetted
Health insurance
- Swiss health insurance · official guidance ↗Official website · check eligibility and current prices
- Priminfo · official premium calculator ↗Government calculator · select postcode and personal details
- Find visiting-fellow insurance guidance ↗Web search · results not vetted
Build your own budget
The planner supports six expense categories, stipend and funding gaps, arrival cash, saved budgets and city comparisons. Missing amounts must be entered before calculating a complete personal budget.
Plan your Geneva stay in any supported currency →