# Why is Swiss cheese so much more expensive than other kinds of cheese? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476 "2003-01-18T15:35:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/21 "2003-01-18T22:10:00Z")
I looked in my fridge. I have a nice piece of Wensleydale at $26.45 per kg, some Canadian cheddar at $13 per kg, and a piece of Swiss cheese at $7825 per kg. Actually, I have no Swiss cheese. But it costs about $18 per kg here. ---
**Author:** ![woolly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@woolly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woolly)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/22 "2003-01-19T00:06:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kambuckta \* > Down here, a decent Swiss/Emmenthal costs around $18-20 per kg (about $9-10 lb) while the more ‘exotic’ cheeses like camemberts and blues can be around $40-$50 kg. And funnily enough, it is more likely to be our local cheeses that are the most expensive. Kam is correct, but she’s also talking in Aus dollars (1 AUD=0.55-0.6 USD). The differential isn’t that significant. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/23 "2003-01-19T00:45:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > \*\*I live in north-central Ohio, and virtually all cheese sold around here was made within an two-hour drive. Ohio has a pretty healthy dairy industry. \*\* _Drool._ What I wouldn’t give for a nice big hunk of Holmes County Swiss cheese. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/24 "2003-01-19T00:48:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Dr Paprika > and a piece of Swiss cheese at $7825 per kg. Does that come with a widescreen plasma TV? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/25 "2003-01-20T05:01:14Z")
I just checked in my supermarket, and it appears that I underestimated the cost of cheese. Most of it is $6 to $14 per pound. ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/26 "2003-01-20T12:52:12Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever seen Swiss for more than $10/pound, whereas it’s easy to find cheddars and goudas and bleu for over $20/pound. Mmmmmmm. Gouda!! ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/27 "2003-01-20T13:06:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kambuckta \* > \*\*Geez, you guys have it so easy. Down here, a decent Swiss/Emmenthal costs around $18-20 per kg (about $9-10 lb) while the more ‘exotic’ cheeses like camemberts and blues can be around $40-$50 kg. And funnily enough, it is more likely to be our local cheeses that are the most expensive. 😕 \*\* \< hijack \> I’ve noticed the same with some wines too. There are a few Aussie wines that are cheaper to buy anywhere but in Oz (but the realy _best_ stuff doesn’t leave the country anyway – like a best kept secret.) \< /hijack \> ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/28 "2003-01-20T16:27:51Z")
I noticed the more stinkier cheese is the more it costs, thus American cheese or Monterey Jack, which has a nice light smell is cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/29 "2003-01-20T21:34:54Z")
That’s probably because a stinky cheese has been aged longer. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/30 "2003-01-20T23:20:10Z")
On the point of aging, aged cheeses are often much _drier_ than non aged cheeses. The same amount of initial product becomes lesser in weight because of the lost moisture. This also contributes to a higher price per pound, since you’re not buying as much water weight. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/31 "2003-01-21T05:50:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*_Drool._ What I wouldn’t give for a nice big hunk of Holmes County Swiss cheese. \*\* No kidding? I was raised on the stuff. (Bein’ a native and all. . . .) ---
**Author:** ![leafrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@leafrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leafrog)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/32 "2003-01-21T06:17:14Z")
Another state motto for Wisconsin: Come Smell Our Dairy Air Sorry, but Wisconsin cheese has nothing on a good Tillamook Aged White Cheddar from the Oregon coast. Costs about $11 for a two pound brick, but is oh so very worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476/33 "2003-01-21T06:32:25Z")
There was a story on NPR about [this](http://discover.npr.org/features/feature.jhtml?wfId=1117524), and it basically boils down to the fact that it’s a royal biatch to slice swiss cheese with automated equipment because of the holes in the cheese. Naturally, instead of trying to develop a better slicing machine, the cheese producers are looking for a way to reduce the amount of holes in swiss cheese to cut costs. :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-swiss-cheese-so-much-more-expensive-than-other-kinds-of-cheese/149476.md?page=1)