Cost of Living in Biel - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,645 (excluding rent), and $3,054 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $4,416 (excluding rent), and $6,431 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.89 CHF 19.99

$14.93 CHF 11.99

$37.34 CHF 29.99

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$112 CHF 90.0

$87.2 CHF 70.0

$624 CHF 501

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.95 CHF 12.80

$12.26 CHF 9.85

$19.62 CHF 15.75

Cappuccino

$6.38 CHF 5.12

$5.01 CHF 4.02

$8.14 CHF 6.53

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

$5.37 CHF 4.31

$4.99 CHF 4.01

$7.48 CHF 6.01

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.90 CHF 3.94

$3.68 CHF 2.95

$7.35 CHF 5.90

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.53 CHF 6.05

$6.03 CHF 4.84

$8.43 CHF 6.77

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 CHF 5.50

$4.98 CHF 4.00

$9.96 CHF 8.00

Milk (1 liter)

$2.28 CHF 1.83

$1.90 CHF 1.52

$2.52 CHF 2.02

White Bread (500g)

$3.79 CHF 3.05

$1.50 CHF 1.21

$5.62 CHF 4.51

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.21 CHF 3.38

$1.87 CHF 1.50

$6.17 CHF 4.95

Eggs

$7.20 CHF 5.78

$4.11 CHF 3.30

$11.54 CHF 9.26

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.85 CHF 24.77

$27.28 CHF 21.91

$68.2 CHF 54.8

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.78 CHF 28.73

$24.93 CHF 20.02

$49.86 CHF 40.04

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.9 CHF 40.85

$28.19 CHF 22.64

$113 CHF 90.6

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 CHF 2.65

$2.44 CHF 1.96

$5.13 CHF 4.12

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 CHF 1.78

$1.56 CHF 1.25

$4.80 CHF 3.85

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 CHF 2.33

$1.83 CHF 1.47

$6.09 CHF 4.89

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 CHF 3.49

$2.52 CHF 2.03

$9.99 CHF 8.02

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 CHF 1.99

$1.25 CHF 1.00

$5.02 CHF 4.03

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 CHF 1.94

$1.82 CHF 1.46

$4.85 CHF 3.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 CHF 2.14

$2.00 CHF 1.60

$4.37 CHF 3.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 CHF 0.70

$0.30 CHF 0.24

$1.94 CHF 1.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.22 CHF 9.01

$10.59 CHF 8.51

$12.46 CHF 10.01

Wine (Bottle)

$12.78 CHF 10.26

$7.66 CHF 6.15

$31.94 CHF 25.65

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 CHF 1.84

$0.90 CHF 0.72

$3.60 CHF 2.89

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CHF 2.78

$1.63 CHF 1.31

$6.29 CHF 5.05

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.47 CHF 3.59

$3.74 CHF 3.00

$4.98 CHF 4.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 CHF 88.4

$78.5 CHF 63.1

$298 CHF 239

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.44 CHF 9.99

$8.70 CHF 6.99

$13.68 CHF 10.99

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.14 CHF 3.33

$2.20 CHF 1.77

$4.42 CHF 3.55

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$84.5 CHF 67.8

$75.1 CHF 60.3

$93.9 CHF 75.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.12 CHF 1.71

$2.09 CHF 1.67

$2.64 CHF 2.12

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

$30.3K CHF 24.4K

$39.8K CHF 32.0K

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

$28.3K CHF 22.7K

$30.8K CHF 24.7K

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

$246 CHF 198

$123 CHF 98.6

$491 CHF 395

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

$35.87 CHF 28.80

$22.01 CHF 17.67

$85.6 CHF 68.7

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.3 CHF 45.97

$49.97 CHF 40.13

$287 CHF 231

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$114 CHF 91.4

$48.77 CHF 39.17

$159 CHF 127

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$72.8 CHF 58.5

Cinema Ticket

$22.06 CHF 17.71

$20.83 CHF 16.73

$30.65 CHF 24.61

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

$2,920 CHF 2,345

$2,485 CHF 1,996

$3,728 CHF 2,993

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.3K CHF 34.0K

$30.5K CHF 24.5K

$54.9K CHF 44.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 CHF 111

$98.3 CHF 78.9

$233 CHF 187

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.08 CHF 37.01

$36.87 CHF 29.60

$172 CHF 138

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 CHF 107

$100 CHF 80.3

$238 CHF 191

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 CHF 128

$110 CHF 88.3

$306 CHF 245

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,275 CHF 1,024

$1,111 CHF 892

$1,481 CHF 1,189

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,138 CHF 914

$979 CHF 786

$1,334 CHF 1,071

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,264 CHF 1,818

$1,577 CHF 1,266

$3,032 CHF 2,435

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,815 CHF 1,458

$1,452 CHF 1,166

$2,420 CHF 1,943

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$15.3K CHF 12.3K

$10.2K CHF 8,205

$20.4K CHF 16.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.9K CHF 10.3K

$8,154 CHF 6,547

$17.6K CHF 14.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,018 CHF 6,439

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: January 11, 2026

Biel Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

406

Mbps

214

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.