Cost of living & currency
Currency
Legal tender is the Swiss Franc (CHF or SFr.). The Euro (EUR or €) is accepted by the major supermarket chains (Migros, Coop, Manor, etc) and by service providers (CFF, Post Office, certain restaurants, etc). However, your change will be given in CHF.
Cost of living
Here are a few current prices in the Lake Geneva Region.
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(approximate prices as of 1 January 2009)
Currency
You can change your money into all the major currencies (€, $, £, ¥, CAD, AUD, etc.) at banks (Monday to Friday), as well as in CFF stations (7 days a week). The major stations and bank branches provide automatic currency dispensers or changeomats that operate 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. In addition, it is possible to withdraw € from most cash dispensers in banks (bancomat) or Post Offices (postomat).
Click here to see the current exchange rates from UBS.
Banks
There are many banks in the Lake Geneva Region for all your financial requirements. The following are only a limited selection of the main ones:
Most banks are open from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. However, some main branches are open continually from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and branches located in shopping centres are also open on Saturdays and, as a rule, keep to the same hours as the centre. Cash dispensers are available.
Cash dispensers
All banks, most post offices, many shopping centres and some stations have cash dispensers. They are open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and allow you to withdraw CHF and €, as well as to change your PIN number and check your balance. In the very largest bank branches, some cash dispensers also allow you to count, deposit and exchange your money and to make payments 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
All of these cash dispensers accept the major international cards and networks (Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard, EC, Postcard, Maestro, Cirrus, Electron, Plus, Eufiserv and Cash).
Credit cards
The major credit cards (Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard) are accepted as payment in most shops, restaurants, hotels, public telephones, ticket machines for intercity travel, etc. However, supermarket chains (Migros, Coop, Waro, Denner, etc.) and smaller shops accept mostly only debit cards. Credit cards also enable you to get money from cash dispensers.
Debit cards (EC, Postcard, Maestro, Cirrus, Electron, Plus and Eufiserv) allow you to withdraw cash from all cash dispensers. EC and Postcard are also widely accepted as payment.
In addition, the Cash electronic wallet is accepted in most kiosks, taxis, parking ticket machines and town transport ticket machines.
Taxes
The main sales tax is value added tax (VAT). It is 8% of the sale price and must be included in it by law.
Currency
You can change your money into all the major currencies (€, $, £, ¥, CAD, AUD, etc.) at banks (Monday to Friday), as well as in CFF stations (7 days a week). The major stations and bank branches provide automatic currency dispensers or changeomats that operate 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. In addition, it is possible to withdraw € from most cash dispensers in banks (bancomat) or Post Offices (postomat).
Click here to see the current exchange rates from UBS.
Banks
There are many banks in the Lake Geneva Region for all your financial requirements. The following are only a limited selection of the main ones:
 | Banque Cantonale Vaudoise |
| UBS |
| Crédit Suisse |
| Raiffeisen |
| Banque Migros |
| Banque Coop |
Most banks are open from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. However, some main branches are open continually from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and branches located in shopping centres are also open on Saturdays and, as a rule, keep to the same hours as the centre. Cash dispensers are available.
Cash dispensers
All banks, most post offices, many shopping centres and some stations have cash dispensers. They are open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and allow you to withdraw CHF and €, as well as to change your PIN number and check your balance. In the very largest bank branches, some cash dispensers also allow you to count, deposit and exchange your money and to make payments 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
All of these cash dispensers accept the major international cards and networks (Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard, EC, Postcard, Maestro, Cirrus, Electron, Plus, Eufiserv and Cash).
Credit cards
The major credit cards (Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard) are accepted as payment in most shops, restaurants, hotels, public telephones, ticket machines for intercity travel, etc. However, supermarket chains (Migros, Coop, Waro, Denner, etc.) and smaller shops accept mostly only debit cards. Credit cards also enable you to get money from cash dispensers.
Debit cards (EC, Postcard, Maestro, Cirrus, Electron, Plus and Eufiserv) allow you to withdraw cash from all cash dispensers. EC and Postcard are also widely accepted as payment.
In addition, the Cash electronic wallet is accepted in most kiosks, taxis, parking ticket machines and town transport ticket machines.
Taxes
The main sales tax is value added tax (VAT). It is 8% of the sale price and must be included in it by law.
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