Geneva airport has an unusual pricing structure: the trip to the city is free, but everything else reflects Swiss prices.
Geneva city center
Train: Free with the Tout Geneve ticket (pick it up in baggage claim). The 7-minute ride to Cornavin station costs nothing. This is one of the best airport-to-city deals in Europe.
Taxi: CHF 30-50. Only worth considering if you have heavy luggage or a specific destination away from the station.
Uber: Similar to taxi pricing. Swiss regulations keep ride-hailing costs high.
Lake Geneva destinations
Lausanne (60 km): Train CHF 30-40 (45 min, frequent service). Transfer CHF 150-250.
Montreux (95 km): Train CHF 40-55 (about 1 hour). Transfer CHF 200-300.
Nyon (25 km): Train CHF 10-15 (15 min). Transfer CHF 80-120.
For Lake Geneva towns, the train is almost always the better choice unless you have specific luggage or group size needs.
Ski resorts (private transfer ranges)
Chamonix, France (85 km, 1-1.5 hr): CHF 80-150 per vehicle.
Megeve, France (75 km, 1.5 hr): CHF 120-200.
Morzine / Avoriaz (100 km, 1.5 hr): CHF 130-220.
Verbier (150 km, 2 hr): CHF 200-350.
Crans-Montana (180 km, 2.5 hr): CHF 250-400.
Zermatt (230 km, 3-3.5 hr): CHF 400-550 (note: the last section requires a train as Zermatt is car-free).
Val d'Isere / Tignes (220 km, 3 hr): CHF 300-500.
These are for a standard sedan carrying up to 3-4 passengers. Minivans and larger vehicles cost 20-40% more.
Budget alternatives to ski resorts
Shared shuttles to Chamonix: CHF 40-80 per person. Multiple companies operate this route.
Scheduled buses to Chamonix: EUR 30-50 per person. Slower (1.5-2 hours with stops) but significantly cheaper.
Train + bus combinations to Swiss resorts: possible but complex and time-consuming with ski gear.
French border towns
Annecy (45 km, 45 min): Transfer CHF 100-180. Bus EUR 15-25.
Divonne-les-Bains (20 km, 20 min): Transfer CHF 50-80.
What makes Geneva expensive
Swiss labor costs, fuel prices, motorway tolls, and vehicle maintenance all contribute. For ski resort transfers, winter tire and chain requirements add operational costs. Per-person costs drop significantly when sharing: a CHF 150 transfer to Chamonix split four ways is CHF 37.50 each, comparable to a shuttle.
Tipping
Not expected in Swiss taxis, though rounding up the fare is common. For transfer drivers, a tip is appreciated but not obligatory.