Cost of Living in Biel - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,660 (excluding rent), and $3,041 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $4,503 (excluding rent), and $6,420 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.81 CHF 19.32

$14.88 CHF 11.59

$37.21 CHF 28.99

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$111 CHF 86.4

$86.3 CHF 67.2

$618 CHF 481

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.71 CHF 12.24

$12.08 CHF 9.41

$19.33 CHF 15.06

Cappuccino

$6.22 CHF 4.85

$4.89 CHF 3.81

$7.94 CHF 6.18

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.18 CHF 4.04

$4.82 CHF 3.76

$7.23 CHF 5.63

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 CHF 3.78

$3.65 CHF 2.84

$7.28 CHF 5.67

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 CHF 6.14

$6.30 CHF 4.91

$8.82 CHF 6.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 CHF 5.22

$4.87 CHF 3.79

$9.74 CHF 7.58

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CHF 1.75

$1.88 CHF 1.46

$2.50 CHF 1.94

White Bread (500g)

$3.85 CHF 3.00

$1.52 CHF 1.19

$5.70 CHF 4.44

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 CHF 3.16

$1.80 CHF 1.40

$5.95 CHF 4.63

Eggs

$7.55 CHF 5.88

$4.31 CHF 3.36

$12.10 CHF 9.42

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.18 CHF 23.51

$26.69 CHF 20.79

$66.7 CHF 52.0

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.20 CHF 27.42

$24.53 CHF 19.11

$49.06 CHF 38.22

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$52.0 CHF 40.53

$28.83 CHF 22.46

$115 CHF 89.9

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 CHF 2.53

$2.40 CHF 1.87

$5.05 CHF 3.93

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 CHF 1.73

$1.56 CHF 1.21

$4.80 CHF 3.74

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 CHF 2.25

$1.83 CHF 1.42

$6.08 CHF 4.74

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 CHF 3.36

$2.51 CHF 1.95

$9.91 CHF 7.72

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CHF 1.95

$1.26 CHF 0.98

$5.05 CHF 3.94

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 CHF 1.96

$1.89 CHF 1.48

$5.05 CHF 3.93

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 CHF 2.01

$1.93 CHF 1.51

$4.23 CHF 3.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 CHF 0.74

$0.32 CHF 0.25

$2.11 CHF 1.64

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.14 CHF 8.67

$10.51 CHF 8.19

$12.37 CHF 9.64

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 CHF 9.88

$7.61 CHF 5.93

$31.71 CHF 24.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 CHF 1.83

$0.92 CHF 0.71

$3.68 CHF 2.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 CHF 2.65

$1.61 CHF 1.25

$6.18 CHF 4.81

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.34 CHF 3.38

$3.62 CHF 2.82

$4.83 CHF 3.76

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$112 CHF 86.9

$79.6 CHF 62.0

$302 CHF 235

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.14 CHF 9.46

$8.49 CHF 6.62

$13.35 CHF 10.40

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.15 CHF 3.23

$2.21 CHF 1.72

$4.43 CHF 3.45

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$82.2 CHF 64.0

$73.0 CHF 56.9

$91.3 CHF 71.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.14 CHF 1.67

$2.10 CHF 1.63

$2.66 CHF 2.07

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K CHF 23.5K

$39.6K CHF 30.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.0K CHF 21.8K

$30.5K CHF 23.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$244 CHF 190

$122 CHF 95.0

$488 CHF 380

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.05 CHF 28.08

$22.11 CHF 17.23

$86.0 CHF 67.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 CHF 43.85

$49.14 CHF 38.28

$283 CHF 220

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$113 CHF 87.9

$48.38 CHF 37.69

$157 CHF 122

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$73.3 CHF 57.1

Cinema Ticket

$22.32 CHF 17.39

$21.08 CHF 16.42

$31.01 CHF 24.16

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,905 CHF 2,263

$2,472 CHF 1,926

$3,708 CHF 2,889

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.2K CHF 33.6K

$31.1K CHF 24.3K

$56.1K CHF 43.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 CHF 110

$100 CHF 78.2

$238 CHF 186

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.55 CHF 36.26

$37.24 CHF 29.01

$174 CHF 135

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 CHF 101

$96.6 CHF 75.3

$229 CHF 179

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 CHF 124

$110 CHF 85.9

$306 CHF 239

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 CHF 1,011

$1,130 CHF 881

$1,507 CHF 1,174

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,166 CHF 908

$1,003 CHF 781

$1,366 CHF 1,064

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,271 CHF 1,769

$1,581 CHF 1,232

$3,041 CHF 2,369

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,832 CHF 1,427

$1,466 CHF 1,142

$2,443 CHF 1,903

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.7K CHF 12.2K

$10.4K CHF 8,129

$20.9K CHF 16.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.2K CHF 10.3K

$8,376 CHF 6,525

$18.0K CHF 14.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,973 CHF 6,211

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.88

1.25

2.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: March 3, 2026

Biel Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🇪🇺 Europe

Cost of Living in Biel - Frequently Asked Questions

Biel sits in a sweet spot: not as hulking as Zurich or Geneva, yet with solid regional connections and high Swiss reliability. You get a compact city feel, lake access, and infrastructure that supports remote work and longer stays without the frenzy of a mega metropolis. The Cost of Living in Biel, Switzerland is generally more approachable than in the big cities, especially for everyday goods and transit. Housing is practical for a range of budgets, and you can mix in quieter neighborhoods with easy train access to Bern or Neuchatel. The vibe suits travelers who want culture, fresh air, and dependable services. Tip: Start with a short-term stay to map neighborhoods before committing long-term.

Daily life in Biel is approachable for travelers and remote workers. For housing, search in Altstadt for walkability, and in lake-adjacent zones for views, while quieter suburbs offer steadier rents. Weekly markets, bakeries, and international groceries give flexible options for budgets; cooking at home remains a strong saver. Public transport is efficient, with trains to Bern and Neuchatel and a network of bikes and buses. Co-working spaces and cafés with reliable wifi support remote work, meetings, and occasional collaborations. For a quick sense of Biel, Switzerland living cost, compare weekly groceries and transit passes across neighborhoods. Tip: map out transit routes first, then visit a few neighborhoods on foot.

Quality of life in Biel centers on a human scale, safety, public services, and access to nature. Use a simple budgeting framework: separate fixed costs (housing, utilities) from flexible spending (food, leisure), and plan for seasonal shifts in heating and outdoor activities. Neighborhood fit matters: Altstadt for culture and walkability, lakefront areas for outdoors, and quiet residential belts for longer stays. Seasonality brings lake life in summer and cozy cultural events in winter. Practical savings come from cooking at home, buying seasonal produce, and taking advantage of public transport passes. Tip: pick a base with good tram connections and easy access to green spaces to maximize daily quality of life.