According to Wolfram Alpha, Switzerland's cost of living is 1.535 times that of the U.S. http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=cost+of+living+switzerland+versus

According to Wolfram Alpha, Switzerland's cost of living is 1.535 times that of the U.S. http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=cost+of+living+switzerland+versus+united+states http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=cost+of+living+switzerl... This proposed Swiss minimum wage is therefore (roughly) equivalent to a minimum wage in the U.S. of $16.28 per hour (taxation differences and non living-expenses notwithstanding).