Swiss franc surge makes cross-border food shopping up to 63% cheaper

If you’re a fan of crossing the border to get the best value for money, 2026 could be one of the best years for Switzerland’s currency in the Eurozone in recent years. A new exchange rate analysis by financial services provider Wise reveals that the Swiss franc has appreciated by around 16 percent against the euro in the past five years, significantly widening the price gap with European states.

This means Swiss consumers have much higher purchasing power in the EU. For example, a 250g block of butter is around 63 percent cheaper in Germany than in Switzerland, while a 10-pack of eggs is about 63 percent cheaper in France, and 2 kg of Gala apples cost 62 percent less in Italy. Overall, Germany offers the greatest savings on food for Swiss consumers, with average savings of around 40 percent.

Even with the duty-free allowance halved from 300 to 150 francs per person from January 2025, buying food abroad remains significantly cheaper. For luxury goods, price advantages are sporadic: a Hermès Arçon Slim bag is around 7 percent cheaper abroad, saving about 300 francs, while an Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is approximately 200 francs cheaper in Germany after VAT adjustment.

However, electronics are generally cheaper in Switzerland due to the country’s low 8.1 percent VAT, compared to the EU average of 21 percent. So while the strong franc offers big savings on groceries and some luxury items, tech shoppers are better off staying home.

Article and image source: thelocal.ch