Convert CHF to USD Swiss franc ↔ US dollar Free Online Secure
Type an amount in Swiss franc and read it in US dollar at once. The page uses the European Central Bank's reference rate, and tells you which day that rate is from.
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The last thirty days
Where these codes and rates come from
The three letters in EUR, USD or JPY are not an abbreviation someone invented for a website: they are ISO 4217, a standard in which the first two letters are the country's own code and the third is usually the initial of the currency. The figures on this page come from the European Central Bank, which publishes one set of reference rates each working day, around 16:00 Central European time, agreed between the central banks of the Eurosystem. They are a daily snapshot meant for statistics and accounting, not a live trading feed — which is exactly why they are the same number for everyone, rather than whatever one bank happened to quote at one moment.
Where you meet an exchange rate
You meet an exchange rate four or five times a year without thinking about it: booking a trip, paying an invoice issued abroad, buying from a foreign shop, reading a salary offer in another currency, or checking what a card charge really cost. In all of these the reference rate is the honest middle, and the price you actually pay sits a little to one side of it. Knowing the middle is what lets you see how wide that margin is.
Questions people ask
Is this the rate my bank will give me?
No, and no page can promise one. This is the European Central Bank's reference rate: the midpoint published once a day for statistics. A bank, a card scheme or an exchange office adds its own margin on top — usually between half a percent and three percent, sometimes more at an airport counter. Use this figure to judge the offer you are given, not to predict it.
How often does the figure change, and what happens at weekends?
The European Central Bank publishes once each working day, in the afternoon, Central European time. There is no publication on Saturdays, Sundays or TARGET holidays, so on those days the page shows the last working day's rate and says which day it belongs to. The chart alongside is one year of the same daily series.
Is the answer exact?
Where both units are defined in terms of one another by whole numbers, yes — the page says so above the figure, and the only rounding is in how many digits are shown. Where the ratio has no finite decimal, the page shows twelve significant digits and says the relation is approximate rather than pretending otherwise.
Does anything I type leave my device?
No. The arithmetic runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded and there is no server to upload it to. Load the page once and it keeps working with the network switched off.
Swiss America: five towns where the franc and the dollar share a main street
In 1845, a group of settlers from the canton of Glarus sailed to America and founded a village in southern Wisconsin, naming it New Glarus. Today, visitors there eat fondue, listen to alphorns and buy Swiss chocolates on the same street where they pay in dollars. It is one of dozens of places in the United States built by Swiss emigrants in the nineteenth century, and their descendants, together with modern Swiss travellers, bankers, watchmakers and students, keep two currencies in conversation: the Swiss franc and the US dollar. This page makes the conversion simple. It takes the European Central Bank's reference rates, in which the franc and the dollar are each quoted against the euro, combines them into a franc-to-dollar rate, shows the result with the date and keeps your amount in your browser. The text below visits five Swiss-American towns, and each is a reason to Convert CHF to USD and to understand what the figure means.
Using the converter
Francs in, dollars out
For anyone with a trip planned, the quickest preparation is to Convert CHF to USD for the budget and note the date next to it.
Type an amount in Swiss francs and the page returns its value in US dollars, with the date of the rate shown below. At weekends it uses Friday's figure and says so. A table of round amounts and a thirty-day line complete the page. For dollars into francs, use Convert USD to CHF.
The mid-market benchmark
The reference rate is published once on every working day and represents the middle of the market, with no profit margin for a bank or card network. What you will be offered in practice is a little worse. The difference is the price of the service, and the best way to judge it is to compare with a benchmark. Each time you Convert CHF to USD here, you obtain one. Under one per cent is excellent, two or three per cent is typical for banks, and four or more is a prompt to look elsewhere.
Town one: New Glarus, Wisconsin
A little Switzerland in the Midwest
New Glarus keeps its Swiss heritage alive with chalet-style buildings, a Swiss Historical Village and festivals such as Heidi Festival and Wilhelm Tell Festival. Visitors can taste local cheese, sausages and brewery products. A fondue dinner costs 25 to 40 dollars a head, a night in a guesthouse 150 to 250. A Swiss visitor who wants to know how that compares with home will Convert CHF to USD for the bill and be pleasantly surprised: American restaurant prices outside the big cities are often lower than Swiss ones.
Cheese country
At a cheese factory or a farm shop, Convert CHF to USD for the price of a wheel and compare it with the Swiss supermarket shelf.
Wisconsin makes more cheese than any other American state, and several Swiss-style varieties are produced near New Glarus. A visit to a cheese factory costs little, and a wheel of Emmental or Gruyère-type cheese can be bought for 15 to 40 dollars. The tradition came from Swiss immigrants who found the climate and pastures similar to those at home.
The Swiss American community
Associations of Swiss descent organise gatherings, singing, yodelling and gymnastics. The Swiss national day, 1 August, is celebrated with picnics and fireworks across the country. Swiss clubs in New York, Chicago and San Francisco host events for new arrivals.
Town two: Highland, Illinois
Founded by the Köpfli family
Highland, in southern Illinois, was founded in 1831 by Swiss settlers from Sursee in Lucerne, led by the Köpfli family. They named it after the highlands of their homeland. The town has a Swiss heritage trail and a museum, and the Pet Milk company, now defunct, once had its origins in Swiss-American enterprise. The Swiss influence is visible in the architecture, family names and cheese traditions.
Settling and farming
The emigrants of the 1830s and 1840s had to buy land, tools, seed and livestock with whatever they had brought from Switzerland. Land cost a dollar or so an acre, and their francs were converted by local bankers at whatever rate they could get. Today we are better informed, and a person moving money between the two countries can compare quotes against a published reference rate.
Town three: Berne, Indiana
The Swiss Amish community
Berne, Indiana, was founded in 1852 by Swiss Mennonites from the canton of Bern, and today it is the centre of a rural community that still speaks a Swiss German dialect among older residents. The town has Swiss-style buildings, a clock tower and a popular festival, the Swiss Days, held each July. It is a window on how the immigrant culture adapted to the American Midwest.
Visiting costs
Add up fuel, motel and meals for the week, then Convert CHF to USD to see whether the daily allowance holds.
Prices in the town are modest. A meal in a family restaurant costs 12 to 20 dollars, a night in a motel 80 to 120. A Swiss visitor travelling by car through Indiana, Ohio and Illinois will find that fuel is sold by the gallon, not the litre; Convert L to gal translates the price. The United States also uses miles, and Convert km to mi does the distance.
Town four: Helvetia, West Virginia
An Appalachian hamlet
Helvetia is a village of about fifty people in the hills of West Virginia, founded in 1869 by Swiss settlers who named it after the Latin for Switzerland. It has a restaurant that serves Swiss dishes, a cheese factory and an annual Fasnacht celebration, a festival where residents wear masks and burn a bonfire. It is a place of quiet and natural beauty, reachable by narrow mountain roads.
Rural prices
Where cash machines are scarce, decide your cash needs first: Convert CHF to USD for the days you will spend off the grid.
Accommodation is simple and cheap, 80 to 130 dollars a night in a guesthouse. Meals are 12 to 25 dollars. With few cash machines and weak phone signals, bring some dollars in cash. The nearest large town is hours away, so plan fuel and food in advance. Convert CHF to USD for your trip budget before you leave civilisation.
Town five: Zurich, New York and the financial link
Banks, watches and pharmaceuticals
Switzerland and the United States are linked by finance and trade. Swiss banks, insurers and asset managers have large offices in New York, and American firms have European headquarters in Zurich and Geneva. Swiss pharmaceutical companies, watchmakers and machinery makers sell billions of dollars' worth of goods to the American market every year. They bill in dollars and pay costs in francs, so the exchange rate shapes their profits.
What a strong franc does to exporters
To see the pricing logic of a watch, Convert CHF to USD for the Swiss price and compare it with the American tag including tax.
When the franc rises against the dollar, Swiss exports become more expensive for American buyers, and the exporters either raise prices or accept lower margins. Many Swiss firms hedge their exposure, selling dollars forward. A Swiss watch that costs 5,000 francs in Zurich and 5,500 dollars in New York has a price that reflects the exchange rate, American sales tax, import duties and the company's pricing policy. Convert CHF to USD to see the gap.
Tourists and tax-free shopping
Visitors from the United States to Switzerland can reclaim value-added tax on purchases above a minimum, if the goods are exported within a limited period. The shop issues a form, which is stamped at the border. Americans coming home must declare goods and may owe duty above their personal allowance. Keep receipts, and ask the shop about the refund process.
Travelling from Switzerland to the United States
Flights, visas and costs
A fare quoted in francs on a Swiss site may differ from the dollar fare, so Convert CHF to USD and compare the two before booking.
Swiss citizens can travel to the United States for tourism under the Visa Waiver Program, with an online authorisation that costs a modest fee in dollars. Direct flights link Zurich and Geneva with New York, Boston, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles. A return ticket costs 700 to 1,500 francs, depending on the season. Allow for the cost of insurance, which is essential in a country with expensive health care.
Prices in the United States
Menu prices exclude tax and tip, so Convert CHF to USD for the number on the menu and then add a quarter.
Hotels in big cities cost 200 to 400 dollars a night, restaurants 25 to 60 per person, and sales tax is added at the till, varying from state to state. Tipping is expected: 18 to 20 per cent in restaurants. For a Swiss visitor accustomed to service included, the extra cost is noticeable. Add 25 to 30 per cent to menu prices when you budget.
Time, weather and distance
New York is six hours behind Switzerland. For a call, Convert CET to EST shows the exact difference. American weather forecasts are in Fahrenheit, and Convert °C to °F translates between the scales.
Swiss students and professionals in America
Studying in the United States
Fees and living costs change by city, so Convert CHF to USD for each line and revise the total each semester.
American universities attract thousands of Swiss students for exchange semesters, master's degrees and doctorates. Tuition at a private university can reach 60,000 dollars a year, and public institutions charge out-of-state students 25,000 to 45,000. Living costs, including housing, food and health insurance, add 15,000 to 25,000 more. Swiss universities often have exchange agreements that waive tuition at the partner institution, so students pay only living costs. Before applying, Convert CHF to USD for each part of the budget, and see how it compares with a year at home.
Scholarships and grants
The Swiss National Science Foundation and private foundations fund research stays and postgraduate study in America. Fulbright awards and university scholarships also exist. Applications are competitive, and deadlines can be a year ahead of the start of the course. A good application explains the research plan and why the American institution is the right place.
Health insurance in the US
Health care in the United States is much more costly than in Switzerland, and students are usually required to hold insurance. A university plan costs 2,000 to 4,000 dollars a year. Without insurance, a night in hospital can cost thousands of dollars. Keep your insurance card and understand the deductibles and what the plan covers.
Working in America
To judge a job offer, Convert CHF to USD for the Swiss net salary and compare it with the American figure after rent, insurance and tax.
Swiss professionals who go to the United States need a work visa tied to a specific employer or an investor or exceptional-ability category. Skilled workers in science, technology and finance can apply for H-1B visas, which are limited by an annual quota and awarded by lottery. Salaries are higher in many American cities than in Switzerland, but taxes, health insurance and housing costs can reduce the gain. Convert CHF to USD for the salary offer, then subtract the American costs and compare with the Swiss net.
Americans in Switzerland
Universities and research
ETH Zurich and EPFL in Lausanne are among the best technical universities in the world, and they attract American students and researchers. Tuition is low by American standards, about 730 francs a semester at ETH, but living costs in Zurich and Lausanne are high. Doctoral students are employed and receive a salary, which makes a PhD in Switzerland financially attractive.
Expatriates and international organisations
Geneva hosts the United Nations European headquarters, the World Trade Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross, with thousands of American staff. Zurich and Zug host banks and commodity traders. American expatriates must file US tax returns on worldwide income, which complicates banking and investments. Some Swiss banks have restricted services for Americans for that reason.
Tourism in the other direction
Americans are among the largest groups of visitors to Switzerland, drawn by the mountains, the railways and the chocolate. They find prices high, partly because of the strong franc. A coffee costs 5 francs, a meal 25 to 50, a hotel night 200 to 400. For an American, the opposite page, Convert USD to CHF, is useful. A lunch at a mountain hut with a view is the best value.
Investing, saving and the franc against the dollar
The franc as a store of value
Swiss savers often keep part of their wealth in dollar assets, such as American stocks and bonds, because the US market is the largest in the world. The currency risk is real: if the dollar falls against the franc, the value of the assets in francs falls too, even if their price in dollars is unchanged. Funds sometimes hedge this risk, at a cost. This text offers no investment advice, but it explains why a sensible saver pays attention to the rate.
Mortgages and the dollar
Americans with a mortgage in dollars and income in francs, or the reverse, are exposed to the exchange rate. A fall in the dollar raises the cost of the mortgage in francs. Such arrangements should be considered carefully, with advice from a professional who understands both markets.
Practical steps
When a large sum is involved, Convert CHF to USD on three different days and keep the lowest and highest figures in a note.
If you hold dollars and need francs, or the opposite, plan conversions in stages. Choose a service that shows the final amount before you confirm. Keep records of every transaction for tax purposes, especially if you hold accounts in both countries. For larger sums, ask for a quote from two or three providers.
Reading the franc-dollar pair
Safe haven against reserve currency
The franc and the dollar are both seen as safe currencies, which makes their relationship unusual. In a crisis, investors may buy both, and the pair can move modestly or sharply depending on the nature of the shock. Interest-rate differences between the Swiss National Bank and the Federal Reserve play a role, as does the euro-dollar rate, since both are quoted against the euro in the calculation on this page.
The thirty-day line
The chart under the converter shows the last thirty days. A flat line means calm, and you can convert at any time without worry. A restless line suggests spreading a large conversion over several days. It does not forecast; it shows recent mood.
Related conversions
Other currencies for the trip
For the euro, Convert CHF to EUR. For the pound, Convert CHF to GBP. For Canada, which many Swiss visit on the way, Convert CHF to CAD, and for Australia Convert CHF to AUD.
Mistakes to avoid
Forgetting tax and tip
American prices on menus and tags usually exclude sales tax and service. Add them before you compare with Swiss prices.
The terminal's offer
If a card machine offers to charge you in francs, say no. Pay in dollars and let your bank convert.
An old rate
A rate noted last month may be a percentage point or more away from today's. The date beside the result protects you.
Back on Main Street
The page downloads only the table of daily reference rates. The amount you type never leaves your device, and no account is needed. From the alphorn to the skyscraper, the habit is the same: Convert CHF to USD, read the date, compare any offer against the figure and keep a note.