"How much does this actually cost?" is the first question almost every guest asks — and fairly so. Private chef pricing can look opaque from the outside, so here's a straightforward breakdown of what goes into the number.
What Affects the Price
A private chef quote isn't a flat fee — it reflects a handful of concrete factors that change from one evening to the next:
- Number of guests. Per-person pricing usually drops slightly as the group grows, since shopping and prep scale more efficiently.
- Menu complexity. A relaxed three-course dinner costs less than a six-course tasting menu with wine pairings.
- Location and travel. Cooking in a chalet an hour from the nearest market costs differently than cooking five minutes from one.
- Date and season. Peak ski-season weekends and New Year's Eve are priced differently than a quiet Tuesday in June.
- Dietary customization. Multiple distinct dietary requirements within one group can add planning time.
Typical Price Ranges
As a guide, here's what private dining in this region typically looks like:
- Private dinner at home: from roughly CHF 140 per person for a multi-course menu.
- Chalet or apartment dining: from roughly CHF 120 per person, often slightly lower per-head for larger groups.
- Celebrations and private events: from roughly CHF 1'200 per event, scaling with guest count and ambition.
A private chef isn't priced per recipe — it's priced per evening: the shopping, the prep, the cooking, the service, and the cleanup, all handled so you don't have to lift a finger.
What's Usually Included
A private chef quote typically covers menu planning, sourcing and purchasing all ingredients, cooking on-site, plating, and serving at the table — plus tidying the kitchen afterwards. What's usually not included, unless agreed in advance, is alcohol and any specialist equipment rental, both of which can be arranged separately on request.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
The fastest way to a real number is a short conversation. Sharing your guest count, location, occasion, and any dietary needs upfront means a quote can be tailored rather than guessed at — and avoids surprises on the night.
If you're weighing a private chef against a catering company for your next event, the next guide breaks down exactly how the two compare.