Cost of Living in Biel - Updated Prices & Insights

124.87

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,742 (excluding rent), and $3,057 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $4,374 (excluding rent), and $6,289 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.98 CHF 20.31

$14.98 CHF 12.18

$37.47 CHF 30.46

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$110 CHF 89.1

$85.2 CHF 69.3

$610 CHF 496

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.04 CHF 13.04

$12.34 CHF 10.03

$19.74 CHF 16.05

Cappuccino

$6.31 CHF 5.13

$4.95 CHF 4.03

$8.05 CHF 6.54

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

$5.2 CHF 4.23

$4.84 CHF 3.93

$7.25 CHF 5.9

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.9 CHF 3.99

$3.68 CHF 2.99

$7.35 CHF 5.98

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.66 CHF 6.23

$6.13 CHF 4.99

$8.58 CHF 6.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 CHF 5.44

$4.86 CHF 3.96

$9.73 CHF 7.91

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.85

$1.89 CHF 1.54

$2.52 CHF 2.05

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 CHF 3.08

$1.5 CHF 1.22

$5.61 CHF 4.56

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.08 CHF 3.32

$1.81 CHF 1.48

$5.98 CHF 4.86

Eggs

$7.28 CHF 5.92

$4.16 CHF 3.38

$11.66 CHF 9.48

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.24 CHF 25.4

$27.63 CHF 22.46

$69.1 CHF 56.2

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.03 CHF 28.48

$24.41 CHF 19.85

$48.82 CHF 39.69

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.6 CHF 41.1

$28.01 CHF 22.78

$112 CHF 91.1

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 CHF 2.64

$2.41 CHF 1.96

$5.06 CHF 4.11

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 CHF 1.83

$1.58 CHF 1.28

$4.87 CHF 3.96

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 CHF 2.36

$1.83 CHF 1.49

$6.11 CHF 4.97

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CHF 3.35

$2.39 CHF 1.95

$9.47 CHF 7.7

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 CHF 2

$1.24 CHF 1.01

$4.96 CHF 4.03

Onion (1kg)

$2.4 CHF 1.96

$1.81 CHF 1.47

$4.82 CHF 3.92

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CHF 2.19

$2.02 CHF 1.64

$4.41 CHF 3.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 CHF 0.76

$0.31 CHF 0.25

$2.05 CHF 1.67

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.28 CHF 9.17

$10.65 CHF 8.66

$12.53 CHF 10.19

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 CHF 9.86

$7.27 CHF 5.91

$30.3 CHF 24.64

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 CHF 1.93

$0.93 CHF 0.75

$3.73 CHF 3.03

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.3 CHF 2.68

$1.56 CHF 1.27

$5.99 CHF 4.87

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.47 CHF 3.63

$3.73 CHF 3.03

$4.97 CHF 4.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 CHF 89.2

$78.2 CHF 63.6

$297 CHF 241

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.42 CHF 10.1

$8.69 CHF 7.07

$13.66 CHF 11.11

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.2 CHF 3.42

$2.24 CHF 1.82

$4.48 CHF 3.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$82 CHF 66.7

$72.9 CHF 59.3

$91.1 CHF 74.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.82

$2.2 CHF 1.79

$2.79 CHF 2.27

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

$30.3K CHF 24.7K

$39.8K CHF 32.4K

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

$28.5K CHF 23.2K

$31K CHF 25.2K

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

$249 CHF 202

$124 CHF 101

$497 CHF 404

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

$36.51 CHF 29.68

$22.39 CHF 18.21

$87.1 CHF 70.8

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.6 CHF 46.82

$50.3 CHF 40.86

$289 CHF 235

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$114 CHF 93

$49.02 CHF 39.86

$159 CHF 130

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$74.5 CHF 60.6

Cinema Ticket

$22.24 CHF 18.08

$21 CHF 17.08

$30.89 CHF 25.12

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

$2,906 CHF 2,363

$2,473 CHF 2,011

$3,710 CHF 3,016

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.4K CHF 34.5K

$30.6K CHF 24.9K

$55.1K CHF 44.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 CHF 114

$99.8 CHF 81.1

$237 CHF 193

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.96 CHF 38.18

$37.57 CHF 30.55

$175 CHF 143

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 CHF 108

$99.3 CHF 80.7

$236 CHF 192

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 CHF 129

$110 CHF 89.1

$304 CHF 248

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,259 CHF 1,024

$1,096 CHF 891

$1,462 CHF 1,189

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,149 CHF 934

$989 CHF 804

$1,347 CHF 1,095

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,304 CHF 1,873

$1,604 CHF 1,304

$3,085 CHF 2,508

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,845 CHF 1,500

$1,476 CHF 1,200

$2,460 CHF 2,000

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.7K CHF 10.3K

$8,576 CHF 6,974

$19.6K CHF 15.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.4K CHF 8,416

$6,088 CHF 4,950

$17K CHF 13.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,159 CHF 5,821

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.

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.