How much money for food per month? The Swiss benchmark
The average Swiss household (around 2.1 people) spends about CHF 632 per month on food at home per BFS HABE 2023, around 6.3 percent of gross income. By household type the range runs from around CHF 351 (single person under 65) to around CHF 1'082 (couple with 3+ children, BFS 2015 to 2017). A per-person figure of roughly CHF 300 is derived, not a BFS figure.
Updated regularly. How much money to spend on food per month depends heavily on household size. The average Swiss household (around 2.1 people) spends about CHF 632 per month on food at home, according to the Federal Statistical Office (BFS, Household Budget Survey 2023), which is around 6.3 percent of gross income. That benchmark is the starting point for checking whether your own budget is in range.
Rappn is the only neutral grocery price comparison app in Switzerland, with no commercial agreement with any retailer. Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner, Aligro and Otto's do not pay us to rank them, and nothing below is sponsored.
How much does a Swiss household spend on food per month?
On average around CHF 632 per month on food and non-alcoholic drinks bought for home (BFS HABE 2023, about 6.3 percent of gross income). By household type the range is wide, though: a single person under 65 spent around CHF 351 per month, a couple with three or more children around CHF 1'082 (BFS, pooled survey 2015 to 2017). Important: BFS breaks food spending down by household type, that is single, couple, couple with children, not by plain headcount. A per-person figure of roughly CHF 300 (CHF 632 divided by 2.1 people) is an estimate, not an official BFS figure, and in larger households the per-head amount falls through economies of scale.
| Household type | Food at home / month | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average of all households (~2.1 people) | around CHF 632 | BFS HABE 2023 |
| Single person under 65 | around CHF 351 | BFS 2015 to 2017 (pooled) |
| Couple with 3+ children | around CHF 1'082 | BFS 2015 to 2017 (pooled) |
| Per person (derived) | roughly CHF 300 | estimate, not a BFS figure |
Are you above or below the benchmark?
The average only says what is usual, not what is necessary. Whether your food budget is high or low only becomes clear once you know your real spending, instead of guessing. And if you are above the benchmark, this is the variable line you can lower every week: Kassensturz and K-Tipp show that switching from name brands to budget own-brands saves 30 to 50 percent. Eating out (restaurants, take-away) comes on top of the roughly CHF 632 and makes food noticeably more expensive overall, but is most easily controlled through frequency.
In the Rappn app you scan your receipts and see your real monthly food figure, instead of guessing. Through the price comparison you lower it week by week. For what a household spends overall, see average household expenses, and for how food fits into a whole budget, the 50-30-20 rule.
Sources checked: .
This is Rappn's spending view: scan your receipts to see your real monthly food figure and compare it against the BFS benchmark of around CHF 632. Tap around to try it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much money should you spend on food per month?
As a benchmark, the average Swiss household (around 2.1 people) spends about CHF 632 per month on food at home, per BFS, around 6.3 percent of gross income. By household type the range runs from around CHF 351 (single person under 65) to around CHF 1'082 (couple with 3+ children).
How much does a single person spend on groceries?
A single person under 65 spent around CHF 351 per month on food at home, per BFS (pooled survey 2015 to 2017). A rough per-person figure derived from the average would be about CHF 300, but that is only an estimate, not an official BFS figure.
Does BFS break food spending down by number of people?
No. BFS breaks spending down by household type (single, couple, couple with children, single-parent), not by plain headcount like 1, 2, 3 or 4 people. A four-person household is not a separate BFS category; the closest is a couple with two children.
How do I find out if my food budget is too high?
By measuring your real spending rather than guessing. In the Rappn app you scan your receipts and see your real monthly figure. If you are above the benchmark of around CHF 632, switching to budget own-brands is the fastest lever, where Kassensturz and K-Tipp measure 30 to 50 percent savings.