Convert RON to CHF Romanian leu ↔ Swiss franc Free Online Secure
Type an amount in Romanian leu and read it in Swiss franc 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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Common amounts — Convert RON to CHF (Romanian leu ↔ Swiss franc)
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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.
Four ways the Swiss franc entered Romanian life, and why the rate still matters
Switzerland and Romania are far apart in size, wealth and climate, yet the Swiss franc has played a larger part in Romanian lives than most people outside the country realise. It once weighed on tens of thousands of household budgets through mortgage loans. It still sits on the price tags of watches, chocolates and medicines in Romanian shops. It pays the wages of Romanian doctors, engineers and carers who work in the Alps, and it measures the investments of Swiss firms in Romanian factories. This page makes the conversion between the two currencies simple. It takes the European Central Bank's reference rates, in which the leu and the Swiss franc are each quoted against the euro, combines them into a leu-to-franc rate, shows the result with the date and keeps your amount in your browser. The text below follows four ways the franc entered Romanian life, and each is a reason to Convert RON to CHF and to understand what the number means.
Using the converter
Lei in, francs out
Once you know how to Convert RON to CHF, the same two steps work for a coffee in Zurich or a flat in Geneva.
Type an amount in lei and the page returns the equivalent in Swiss francs, with the date of the rate underneath. At weekends it shows Friday's figure and says so. A table of round amounts and a thirty-day line complete the page. For francs into lei, use Convert CHF to RON.
The reference rate as a ruler
The reference rate is the middle of the market, published once a working day. It contains no margin for any bank. The rates you meet in practice are slightly worse, and the difference is the price of the service. Each time you Convert RON to CHF here, you obtain the figure against which any offer should be measured: under one per cent is excellent, two or three per cent is normal for banks, and above four is a reason to compare.
Way one: the franc mortgage
Why Romanians borrowed in francs
In the years before 2008, interest rates on loans in Swiss francs were far lower than those on loans in lei or euros. Banks in Romania, as in Poland and Hungary, offered mortgages and car loans denominated in francs, and tens of thousands of households accepted. The reasoning seemed sound: the monthly payment was smaller, and the franc had been stable for years. The catch was that the borrowers earned lei, and the loan had to be repaid in francs, so any rise in the franc against the leu would raise the cost of the loan in lei.
What happened next
The lesson of that period is simple: Convert RON to CHF for the instalment at several hypothetical rates before you sign any loan.
After the financial crisis of 2008, the franc strengthened sharply as investors sought safety, while the leu weakened. A borrower who had agreed to pay a few hundred francs a month found the instalment, measured in lei, rising sharply. Some borrowers could no longer pay, and the issue became a political and legal matter. Courts examined whether banks had explained the risk clearly. Later, Romanian law gave borrowers some options, including a debt-for-property exchange in certain cases. The episode left a lasting lesson: borrowing in a currency in which you do not earn exposes you to a risk you cannot control.
What the lesson means today
Anyone who earns in lei and holds a loan, a lease or a subscription in francs, euros or dollars carries a similar exposure. The size of the risk depends on the share of income spent on the foreign-currency payment and on how much the rate can move. A simple test: Convert RON to CHF for the monthly payment at today's rate and at a rate ten per cent weaker, and see whether the household budget could take the difference.
Way two: Swiss goods in Romanian shops
Watches, chocolate and cheese
For a purchase abroad, Convert RON to CHF and compare with the Romanian shelf price, remembering that tax-free rules may differ.
Swiss watches, chocolates and cheeses are sold in Romanian department stores and delicatessens at prices that reflect the franc's strength. A mid-range Swiss watch costs from 1,000 to 3,000 francs, which in lei is a large sum, while a bar of good Swiss chocolate may cost 10 to 20 lei. The price tags in Romanian shops are in lei, but importers set them with the franc and the euro in mind. A weaker leu raises these prices over time.
Medicines and chemicals
Several of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies are Swiss, and their products are widely used in Romania. Prices of branded medicines are regulated, and reimbursement by the national health insurance fund depends on the product. Swiss agrochemical firms also supply Romanian farmers with seeds and crop protection products. For these buyers, the leu-franc rate is one of the elements of the final price.
Way three: Romanians working in Switzerland
Doctors, engineers and carers
Anyone weighing a Swiss job offer should Convert RON to CHF for today's salary and then compare the net, not the gross.
Switzerland pays some of the highest wages in the world, and Romanians have worked there as doctors, nurses, engineers, builders, hotel staff and seasonal farm workers. Salaries are quoted in francs, and so are rents, health insurance and taxes. A nurse in a Swiss hospital may earn several times what she would at home, but her costs are higher too. For a Romanian considering such a move, the right comparison is the net income left after all costs, converted into lei.
Permits and paperwork
Permit fees are charged in francs, so Convert RON to CHF for each one on the day you pay.
Romanians, as citizens of the European Union, may work in Switzerland under the free-movement agreements, though the rules differ from those of EU countries and include quotas in some periods and permit categories. Employers usually help with the paperwork. Fees are charged in francs. A person who stays for more than three months must register with the local authorities and take out Swiss health insurance.
Sending money back
Swiss workers who send money to Romania typically do so in francs, converted to lei by the transfer service. The bigger the transfer, the more the margin matters. A saving of one per cent on a monthly transfer of 1,000 francs is ten francs a month, or 120 a year. A comparison among three services, using the reference rate as a ruler, pays for itself in minutes.
Way four: Swiss firms in Romania
Factories, cement and food
An analyst reading a Swiss company's report in francs would Convert RON to CHF to see how much of the profit comes from Romania.
Swiss companies were among the early investors in post-communist Romania. A Swiss building-materials group operates cement plants, a Swiss food giant makes coffee and chocolate products at Romanian sites, and Swiss banks and insurers have branches. The firms pay local wages in lei and report profits in francs. When the leu weakens against the franc, the profit measured in francs shrinks, even if sales in lei are stable.
Why this matters to ordinary people
Large foreign investors create jobs and bring technology, but their decisions depend partly on the exchange rate. A weaker leu makes Romanian labour cheaper for a Swiss firm, but also reduces the value of its returns. A stable currency helps them plan. The central bank's policy of limiting sharp moves in the leu is meant to create such stability.
Travelling from Romania to Switzerland
Documents and money
Before the trip, Convert RON to CHF for the daily budget, write it on a note and keep it with your passport.
Romanians can travel to Switzerland as members of the Schengen area. A passport or identity card is enough for short visits. Switzerland is not in the European Union, so customs controls on goods still apply. Cards are accepted nearly everywhere, and cash machines are plentiful. Convert RON to CHF for your daily budget before you leave, because prices are among the highest in Europe.
A rough budget
Add up hotel, food, transport and one excursion, then Convert RON to CHF for the total to see the real cost of the week.
A coffee costs 4 to 6 francs, a simple lunch 20 to 30, a mid-range hotel room 150 to 300 a night, and a day pass for local transport 10 to 15. A mountain railway ride can cost 60 to 200. For a family on a modest budget, a hostel or an apartment, supermarket meals and free walks are the answer. Keep a margin of ten per cent for unexpected costs.
Distances, heights and temperatures
Swiss mountains are measured in metres: the Matterhorn stands at 4,478 metres, and Convert m to ft gives about 14,690 feet. Distances are in kilometres, and Convert km to mi turns them into miles. Temperatures at altitude fall quickly, and Convert °C to °F turns the forecast into Fahrenheit.
Zurich or Cluj: two pay slips set side by side
The Swiss pay slip
Imagine a Romanian software engineer offered a post in Zurich. The gross salary is quoted per year, with a thirteenth monthly payment common in Switzerland. From it come contributions to the state pension, unemployment insurance and a pension fund, and income tax that varies by canton. Health insurance is bought separately and is not deducted by the employer. The net monthly pay, after these items, may look generous, but rent for a one-bedroom flat in Zurich can take a third or more of it. Before accepting, Convert RON to CHF for the Romanian salary you earn now, and compare the net Swiss amount after rent, insurance and transport.
The Romanian pay slip
In Cluj the same engineer would earn a fraction of the Swiss salary in nominal terms, but would pay lower rent, lower prices for food and services, and less for transport. Taxes and social contributions are deducted at source, and the net figure is lower than the gross, as in Switzerland. After rent and bills, a good share may remain for saving, travel and leisure. The right comparison is not the headline salary but the surplus at the end of the month.
A table to settle the matter
Make three columns: net income, fixed costs and what is left. Fill them in for each city, in the local currency, then Convert RON to CHF to bring the Romanian column into francs. The size of the surplus in each column, and the quality of life it buys, is the real answer. Many people discover that the difference is smaller than the salaries suggest, while others find the opposite.
Beyond money
Money is only part of the story. Switzerland offers high wages, safety, clean cities and mountains on the doorstep, but also long distances from family and a very expensive daily life. Romania offers family, language and lower costs, but also lower pay in many professions. Ask yourself what you want from the next five years, and let the figures support the answer.
If you hold a franc loan or a franc-linked contract
Check the contract
When you review a loan, Convert RON to CHF for each instalment at the bank's rate and at the reference rate, and compare.
If you still have a loan in francs, find out exactly how the instalment is calculated, which exchange rate the bank uses and when. Banks often apply their own selling rate, which is higher than the reference rate. The difference can add a few per cent to every payment. The contract may also include clauses on interest-rate changes. Ask for a written explanation and for a payment schedule in both currencies.
Compare the cost with a loan in lei
Calculate what the same loan would cost in lei at today's interest rates. If the difference in monthly payment is small, refinancing into lei may remove the currency risk. A broker or a bank adviser can run the numbers. Fees for early repayment or for changing the loan must be added to the comparison. Do not decide on the basis of an advertisement; ask for an offer in writing.
Know your rights
Romanian law gives consumers protection against unfair terms, and courts have examined franc loans in detail. If you think your contract contains unfair terms, consult a lawyer or a consumer-protection organisation. Collect your documents: contract, schedules, statements and correspondence. Keep a record of every exchange rate used by the bank.
Short stays in Switzerland, in practice
Arriving by train or by air
Zurich, Geneva and Basel have international airports with good rail links to the city centres. Trains are punctual and fast, but tickets are expensive. A one-way fare between Zurich and Geneva is about 80 francs at the standard rate, with discounts for early booking and for holders of half-fare cards. Plan your journeys in advance and compare the pass with single tickets.
Eating well without ruin
Even a supermarket lunch is cheap to price; Convert RON to CHF for the whole basket before you pay.
Supermarkets such as Migros and Coop have hot counters and picnic food of good quality at moderate prices. A sandwich costs 6 to 9 francs, a hot meal 12 to 18. Restaurants charge more, with a main course at 25 to 45 francs, and service is included in the bill. A tip is optional, and rounding up is common. Water from the tap is safe and free, and fountains in villages offer it too.
Free and cheap attractions
Walking by the lakes, along the Rhine in Basel, across the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne and around the old towns costs nothing. Many museums have free days or reduced admission for young people and groups. Mountain huts offer bunk beds at lower prices than hotels, and a day in the countryside can be spent for the price of a cheese sandwich.
The franc and the leu over the years
A safe haven and a managed float
The pair is easy to test: Convert RON to CHF today and again in a month, and read the line under the result.
The Swiss franc is a safe-haven currency: investors buy it in times of fear. The leu, by contrast, is the currency of an emerging economy, with higher inflation and interest rates. Over the long run, the franc has gained against the leu, which is why people who borrowed in francs suffered. The rate can still move several per cent in a month, depending on global mood and on the actions of the two central banks.
What drives the rate
The leu-franc rate is derived from the leu-euro and franc-euro rates. It reflects Romanian inflation, the National Bank of Romania's policy and political events at home, together with the Swiss National Bank's policy, which has occasionally intervened to limit the franc's strength. For a traveller, the lesson is to watch the thirty-day line and avoid relying on a single day for a large conversion.
Related conversions
Other currencies near the franc
For the euro, Convert RON to EUR covers the euro area, which borders Switzerland on three sides. For the pound, there is Convert RON to GBP, and for the dollar Convert RON to USD. The franc's value in euros is at Convert EUR to CHF.
Mistakes to avoid
Borrowing in a foreign currency
Do not take a loan in a currency in which you do not earn without understanding the risk. Ask the lender to show you what the instalment would be if the rate moved by twenty per cent.
The terminal's offer
If a card machine in Switzerland offers to charge you in lei, say no. Pay in francs 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.
The franc, in the end
The page downloads only the table of daily reference rates. The amount you type never leaves your device, and no account is needed. Whether you owe francs, earn them or simply plan to spend them, the habit is the same: Convert RON to CHF, read the date, compare any offer against the figure and keep a note.