Cost of Living in Biel - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,603 (excluding rent), and $3,114 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $4,913 (excluding rent), and $6,422 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.15 CHF 19.43

$14.48 CHF 11.66

$36.22 CHF 29.15

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$113 CHF 90.9

$87.9 CHF 70.7

$629 CHF 506

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.77 CHF 12.7

$12.13 CHF 9.76

$19.41 CHF 15.62

Cappuccino

$6.31 CHF 5.08

$4.96 CHF 3.99

$8.05 CHF 6.48

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

$5.29 CHF 4.26

$4.92 CHF 3.96

$7.37 CHF 5.93

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 CHF 3.87

$3.61 CHF 2.91

$7.21 CHF 5.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.5 CHF 6.04

$6 CHF 4.83

$8.4 CHF 6.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 CHF 5.59

$5.05 CHF 4.07

$10.11 CHF 8.13

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.77

$1.83 CHF 1.47

$2.43 CHF 1.96

White Bread (500g)

$3.82 CHF 3.07

$1.51 CHF 1.22

$5.66 CHF 4.55

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.13 CHF 3.32

$1.84 CHF 1.48

$6.06 CHF 4.87

Eggs

$7.2 CHF 5.8

$4.12 CHF 3.31

$11.55 CHF 9.29

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.75 CHF 24.75

$27.2 CHF 21.89

$68 CHF 54.7

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.43 CHF 28.52

$24.69 CHF 19.87

$49.38 CHF 39.74

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$51.3 CHF 41.31

$28.44 CHF 22.89

$114 CHF 91.6

Apples (1kg)

$3.4 CHF 2.74

$2.52 CHF 2.03

$5.3 CHF 4.26

Banana (1kg)

$2.3 CHF 1.85

$1.61 CHF 1.3

$4.97 CHF 4

Oranges (1kg)

$3 CHF 2.42

$1.9 CHF 1.53

$6.31 CHF 5.08

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 CHF 3.44

$2.49 CHF 2

$9.83 CHF 7.91

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 CHF 1.92

$1.2 CHF 0.97

$4.82 CHF 3.88

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 CHF 2.03

$1.89 CHF 1.52

$5.05 CHF 4.06

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 CHF 2.11

$1.96 CHF 1.58

$4.29 CHF 3.45

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 CHF 0.71

$0.3 CHF 0.24

$1.94 CHF 1.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.03 CHF 8.88

$10.42 CHF 8.38

$12.26 CHF 9.86

Wine (Bottle)

$12.33 CHF 9.92

$7.4 CHF 5.95

$30.81 CHF 24.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 CHF 1.86

$0.9 CHF 0.73

$3.63 CHF 2.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 CHF 2.75

$1.61 CHF 1.3

$6.21 CHF 5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.34 CHF 3.49

$3.62 CHF 2.92

$4.83 CHF 3.88

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 CHF 87.7

$77.7 CHF 62.5

$295 CHF 237

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.49 CHF 10.05

$8.74 CHF 7.03

$13.73 CHF 11.05

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.19 CHF 3.37

$2.23 CHF 1.79

$4.47 CHF 3.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$84.5 CHF 68

$75.1 CHF 60.4

$93.8 CHF 75.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.2 CHF 1.77

$2.16 CHF 1.74

$2.73 CHF 2.2

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

$30.2K CHF 24.3K

$39.6K CHF 31.9K

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

$28.8K CHF 23.2K

$31.3K CHF 25.2K

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

$251 CHF 202

$125 CHF 101

$501 CHF 403

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

$36.02 CHF 28.99

$22.09 CHF 17.78

$85.9 CHF 69.2

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 CHF 45.28

$49.11 CHF 39.52

$282 CHF 227

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$115 CHF 92.2

$49.1 CHF 39.51

$160 CHF 128

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$73 CHF 58.7

Cinema Ticket

$21.92 CHF 17.64

$20.7 CHF 16.66

$30.45 CHF 24.51

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

$2,942 CHF 2,367

$2,504 CHF 2,015

$3,755 CHF 3,022

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.7K CHF 34.3K

$30.8K CHF 24.8K

$55.4K CHF 44.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 CHF 113

$99.6 CHF 80.2

$237 CHF 190

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.11 CHF 37.91

$37.69 CHF 30.33

$176 CHF 142

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 CHF 106

$98.1 CHF 79

$233 CHF 188

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$163 CHF 131

$113 CHF 90.7

$313 CHF 252

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,286 CHF 1,035

$1,120 CHF 901

$1,493 CHF 1,202

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,161 CHF 934

$998 CHF 804

$1,360 CHF 1,095

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,345 CHF 1,887

$1,633 CHF 1,314

$3,140 CHF 2,527

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,884 CHF 1,516

$1,507 CHF 1,213

$2,512 CHF 2,022

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13K CHF 10.4K

$8,773 CHF 7,060

$20.1K CHF 16.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.5K CHF 8,488

$6,204 CHF 4,993

$17.4K CHF 14K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,655 CHF 6,161

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: December 1, 2025

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🇪🇺 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.