Groceries &
Food Shopping in Switzerland
Swiss food prices are among the highest in Europe — but with the right strategy, you can shop well for less. Between loyalty cards, discount stores, and cross-border shopping, smart expats save CHF 1,000–3,000+ per year.
| Store | Type | Price level | Key feature | Loyalty card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Migros | Main supermarket (co-op) | ⭐⭐⭐ Mid | Own-brand quality, no alcohol | Cumulus (free) |
Coop | Main supermarket | ⭐⭐⭐ Mid | Wide range, sells alcohol & luxury items | Supercard (free) |
Denner | Discount (owned by Migros) | ⭐⭐ Cheap | Alcohol specialist, budget staples | Cumulus linked |
Aldi ⭐ Budget | Discount (German) | ⭐ Cheapest | Up to 30% cheaper than Migros/Coop | None |
Lidl ⭐ Budget | Discount (German) | ⭐ Cheapest | Good fresh produce, weekly specials | None |
Manor Food | Premium | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High | International products, specialty items | Manor card |
Globus Delicatessa | Luxury | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very high | Imported goods, wine, delicatessen | — |
Migros Cumulus
1 point per CHF 1 spent. 500 points = CHF 5 voucher. Link to Migros Online for delivery. Also works at Migros Bank, Do it + Garden, and partner stores.
Coop Supercard
1 point per CHF 1 spent. 1,000 points = CHF 10 voucher. Works at Coop, Interdiscount, Dipl. Ingenieur Fust, and petrol stations. Also gives bonus points on selected items each week.
Migros app
Digital Cumulus card, shopping list, personalised offers, and online ordering from Migros Online. The M-Cumulus app sends weekly bonus coupons worth CHF 1–5 per item.
Coop app
Digital Supercard, weekly offers, recipe ideas, and Coop@home delivery ordering. Check the "Freebiefriday" section for free product samples.
Payment methods
All major supermarkets accept debit/credit cards and TWINT. Cash is still widely used. Smaller market stalls and butchers may be cash or TWINT only.
Local butchers & markets
Weekly farmers' markets (Wochenmarkt) in most Swiss cities offer fresh local produce, often cheaper than supermarkets for seasonal vegetables, eggs, and cheese. Excellent quality.
Organic options
Alnatura (German organic chain) and Reformhaus (health food) are available in major cities. Migros Bio and Coop Naturaplan are quality organic lines at reasonable prices.
Swiss specialties
Raclette cheese, Gruyère, Appenzeller, and rösti ingredients are cheapest at Migros and Coop. Look for "Schweizer Qualität" labels for locally sourced products.
This is a founding principle of Migros, established by founder Gottlieb Duttweiler in 1925. As a co-operative, Migros has maintained this policy out of ethical principles. Their subsidiary Denner, however, does sell alcohol — and Denner is widespread across Switzerland.
Yes — perfectly legal. Swiss residents can import up to CHF 300 worth of goods duty-free per person per day from EU countries. Meat has additional weight limits (1 kg per person). You must declare goods exceeding the threshold at the border. Keep receipts.
Main supermarkets are closed Sunday. Open options include: train station shops (SBB Migros and Coop branches open Sunday), motorway service stations, petrol station shops, some convenience stores (k kiosk), and specialist stores at airports. Sunday shopping is a cultural adjustment most expats have to make.
No — Migros, Coop, Aldi, and Lidl all accept debit cards, credit cards, and TWINT. Cash is accepted everywhere too. Only small stalls, market vendors, some bakeries and butchers, and older local shops may be cash or TWINT only.