Single-parent grocery budget in Switzerland: how much with one, two or three children?
A single-parent household in Switzerland should plan CHF 500 to 650 a month for groceries with one child, 700 to 850 with two and 850 to 1'000 with three, depending on net income (guideline, Budgetberatung Schweiz, 2025/2026). Measured: in 2018-2019 single-parent households spent on average CHF 622 a month (Federal Statistical Office).
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A single-parent grocery budget in Switzerland starts from the figures of Budgetberatung Schweiz, the Swiss budget counselling association: CHF 500 to 650 a month with one child, 700 to 850 with two and 850 to 1'000 with three, depending on net income (2025/2026). These are guidelines; according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), single-parent households actually spent an average of CHF 622 a month on food and non-alcoholic drinks in 2018-2019.
Updated October 2026. Sources: Budgetberatung Schweiz, budget examples 2025/2026; FSO, Household Budget Survey (table T20.02.01.00.13 and 2023 results) and Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2024; Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), premium subsidies (viewed on 8 October 2026).
How much should a single parent budget for groceries with one, two or three children?
CHF 500 to 1'000 a month, depending on the number of children and your monthly net income, not counting any 13th-month salary: find your row. The food line covers food and non-alcoholic drinks consumed at home. It leaves out eating out, hosting guests and alcohol. For each child aged 12 or over, add CHF 50 to 100 a month.
| Net income per month (CHF) | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3'300 | 500 | – | – |
| 3'500 | 550 | – | – |
| 4'000 | 600 | 700 | – |
| 4'500 | 600 | 750 | 850 |
| 5'000 | 650 | 800 | 900 |
| 5'500 | 650 | 800 | 950 |
| 6'000 | – | 850 | 950 |
| 6'500 | – | 850 | 1'000 |
| 7'000 | – | – | 1'000 |
Per week: about CHF 115 to 150 with one child, 162 to 196 with two, 196 to 231 with three (monthly amount divided by 4.33).
| Period (FSO) | Spending per month | People | Per person (spending ÷ people) | Share of gross income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | CHF 622 | 2.68 | about CHF 232 | 7.9% |
| 2020-2021 (Covid years) | CHF 648 | 2.57 | about CHF 252 | 7.4% |
The FSO average for all households was about CHF 638 a month in 2023, with 2.07 people; other household types are in the grocery budget by household size.
When one adult manages the money, Rappn keeps the groceries in one view: receipts by month and by category.
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How much of the whole budget goes on groceries?
At a net income of CHF 5'000 a month, the examples set CHF 650 for groceries with one child, 800 with two and 900 with three: 13 to 18% of net income (our calculation: amount ÷ 5'000).
| Line, at CHF 5'000 net | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 1'500 | 1'500 | 1'600 |
| Taxes | 270 | 130 | 20 |
| Basic health insurance, before subsidies | 570 | 690 | 810 |
| Food and non-alcoholic drinks | 650 | 800 | 900 |
| Personal care, cleaning, small items | 90 | 120 | 140 |
| Amount left available | 700 | 430 | 120 |
The amount left covers childcare, meals at work, a car, holidays and savings. Health insurance is shown before subsidies, but for lower and middle incomes cantons must reduce children’s premiums by at least 80% (FOPH); regional differences in rent and tax are not included. See also the monthly budget examples for Switzerland and the household budget template.
Time and money: how do you organise grocery shopping on your own?
Plan once a week, choose four or five dinners in advance and do one big shop: with one adult in charge, time counts as much as money.
- A set time each week to check the fridge and cupboards and choose the dinners: see how to plan meals for the week.
- Four or five dinners, not seven: the other evenings are for leftovers. Ideas children actually eat are in the family meal plan.
- One big shop, then only top-ups of fresh food: each extra trip costs time and often adds unplanned purchases.
- Cook double and freeze: one pot of sauce makes two dinners, the second for the busiest evening.
- A shared list with older children: whoever finishes the milk adds it straight away (see the shared shopping list).
- Check the promotions before you write the list, not in the shop, and stock up only on what you really use; more ideas for saving money on groceries in Switzerland.
Where can you get help with your budget?
At a local budget counselling service. The services that belong to Budgetberatung Schweiz help you build a personal budget. They are independent and their services and prices vary: ask about the cost before the appointment.
- The budget examples for single-parent families with one, two and three children are PDFs in German, French and Italian; the website has no English version.
- Health insurance premium subsidies are set by your canton: some grant them without an application, in others you must apply.
- For other family support, such as childcare, start with your municipality’s social services or your canton’s website.
How can you track your family’s grocery spending in Rappn?
First step for today: photograph this week’s receipts and at the end of the month compare only food and non-alcoholic drinks with the table, leaving out cleaning products, personal care and alcohol. Rappn is a free Swiss app (iOS and Android) that compares the current promotions of seven Swiss retailers and turns receipts into a spending overview. It sorts your purchases into categories and shows your spending by month, next to your own monthly average, and you can share the shopping list with your household and edit it together. Rappn covers groceries only, not rent, health insurance or taxes.
If you want your own figure rather than an average, the free Rappn app imports the receipts of three big Swiss supermarkets’ loyalty programmes, up to 12 months back, and you add the others by photo; it then shows your spending by category and by month. You need a Rappn account and must be 18 or over. The programmes’ terms still apply, and a programme’s operator can restrict the link (how linking works).
Updated: .
Why Rappn?
Rappn is an independent grocery price comparison app in Switzerland, with no commercial agreements with any retailer. Our comparisons are truly independent.
- 100% free: no subscription, no hidden costs
- Neutral: no commercial agreements with Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner, Aligro, or Otto’s
- Updated daily, as soon as the chains publish their deals
- The chains’ deals in one place: search, filter, compare, no subscription
- Meal planner in the Kitchen tab: plan the week, send the ingredients to your list
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Frequently Asked Questions
What grocery budget does a single-parent family need in Switzerland?
For groceries, Budgetberatung Schweiz suggests CHF 500 to 650 a month with one child, 700 to 850 with two and 850 to 1'000 with three, depending on net income (budget examples 2025/2026), plus CHF 50 to 100 for each child aged 12 or over. According to the Federal Statistical Office, single-parent households spent an average of CHF 622 a month on food and non-alcoholic drinks in 2018-2019.
How much should a single parent with two children budget for groceries in Switzerland?
The Budgetberatung Schweiz grocery guideline for a single parent with two children is CHF 700 to 850 a month, about CHF 162 to 196 a week (monthly amount divided by 4.33), depending on net income (budget examples 2025/2026). The Federal Statistical Office does not publish actual spending by number of children. Add CHF 50 to 100 a month for each child aged 12 or over.
Where can I find a sample budget for a single-parent family?
Budgetberatung Schweiz publishes budget examples for single-parent families with one, two and three children on budgetberatung.ch (version 2025/2026, in German, French and Italian), with every line from housing to reserves for several net incomes. They leave out regional differences in rent, tax and health insurance premiums.
Why keep a buffer for the unexpected?
In 2024, 42.1% of people in single-parent households would not have been able to pay an unexpected expense of CHF 2'500 within a month, against 20.7% of the whole population (FSO, SILC 2024). The Budgetberatung Schweiz examples set aside CHF 80 to 200 a month for the unexpected.
How can a single parent save time on grocery shopping?
Plan once a week at a fixed time, decide four or five dinners in advance, do one big shop with a list and only small top-ups of fresh food. Cooking double and freezing helps too, as does a shared list with older children.
Can I track my family’s grocery spending in Rappn?
Yes: you photograph receipts, upload them from your gallery or enter a purchase by hand, and Rappn sorts them by category and by month, next to your own monthly average. The app is free but does not cover rent, health insurance or taxes.