Cost of Living Comparison Between Aarau and Basel Cost of Living Comparison Between Aarau and Basel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,999 per month in Aarau vs $3,606 in Basel, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,746 per month in Aarau vs $5,819 in Basel, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,493 per month in Aarau vs $8,033 in Basel, rent included.

Aarau is about 17% cheaper than Basel, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Aarau and Basel sit above the global median – Aarau by 124%, Basel by 170%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.41 CHF 23.78

$31.16 CHF 25.19

-5.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$108 CHF 86.9

$154 CHF 125

-30.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.71 CHF 15.13

$19.41 CHF 15.69

-3.61%

Cappuccino

$6.23 CHF 5.04

$6.73 CHF 5.44

-7.43%

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

$3.36 CHF 2.72

$5.46 CHF 4.42

-38.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 CHF 4.01

$5.21 CHF 4.21

-4.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.04 CHF 6.50

$9.65 CHF 7.80

-16.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.33 CHF 5.92

$7.31 CHF 5.91

0.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 CHF 1.69

$2.21 CHF 1.79

-5.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CHF 2.60

$3.87 CHF 3.13

-17.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 CHF 2.03

$5.19 CHF 4.19

-51.64%

Eggs

$6.79 CHF 5.49

$7.82 CHF 6.33

-13.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.96 CHF 23.41

$28.51 CHF 23.05

1.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$36.04 CHF 29.14

$36.76 CHF 29.72

-1.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$44.72 CHF 36.16

$44.22 CHF 35.75

1.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 CHF 2.26

$3.91 CHF 3.16

-28.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 CHF 1.69

$2.74 CHF 2.21

-23.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 CHF 2.25

$4.18 CHF 3.38

-33.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.89 CHF 4.76

$6.99 CHF 5.65

-15.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 CHF 1.83

$3.26 CHF 2.64

-30.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 CHF 1.69

$2.98 CHF 2.41

-29.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 CHF 2.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 CHF 1.17

$1.49 CHF 1.21

-2.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.39 CHF 8.40

$11.83 CHF 9.56

-12.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.41 CHF 8.42

$13.68 CHF 11.06

-23.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 CHF 1.88

$2.42 CHF 1.96

-4.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 CHF 1.76

$3.04 CHF 2.46

-28.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.39 CHF 3.55

$4.76 CHF 3.85

-7.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$148 CHF 120

$105 CHF 85.0

41.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.57 CHF 6.93

$7.92 CHF 6.41

8.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.52 CHF 4.46

$4.36 CHF 3.52

26.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$88.5 CHF 71.5

$87.4 CHF 70.7

1.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.80

$2.20 CHF 1.78

1.36%

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

$41.2K CHF 33.3K

$40.8K CHF 33.0K

0.99%

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

$42.9K CHF 34.7K

$45.1K CHF 36.5K

-4.98%

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

$250 CHF 202

$302 CHF 244

-17.25%

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

$43.25 CHF 34.97

$54.0 CHF 43.66

-19.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.2 CHF 47.04

$58.9 CHF 47.60

-1.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.4 CHF 54.5

$90.9 CHF 73.5

-25.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.92 CHF 33.89

$41.38 CHF 33.46

1.30%

Cinema Ticket

$23.86 CHF 19.29

$23.17 CHF 18.73

2.98%

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

$3,189 CHF 2,578

$2,533 CHF 2,048

25.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K CHF 20.4K

$33.8K CHF 27.4K

-25.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.1 CHF 74.5

$135 CHF 110

-32.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 CHF 43.85

$87.6 CHF 70.9

-38.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 CHF 88.1

$180 CHF 145

-39.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 CHF 139

$230 CHF 186

-25.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 CHF 1,049

$2,103 CHF 1,701

-38.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 CHF 855

$1,511 CHF 1,222

-30.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,490 CHF 2,013

$3,742 CHF 3,025

-33.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,075 CHF 1,677

$2,829 CHF 2,288

-26.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K CHF 8,286

$18.8K CHF 15.2K

-45.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.1K CHF 9,744

$14.6K CHF 11.8K

-17.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,069 CHF 5,716

$7,175 CHF 5,801

-1.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

2.55

-1.96%

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

Last update for Aarau: July 12, 2026

Last update for Basel: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,298 in Aarau versus $2,103 in Basel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1% higher in Basel, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $108 in Aarau versus $154 in Basel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $634 vs $692 – making Aarau the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Aarau vs Basel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basel costs about 20% more than Aarau, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,498 per month in Aarau and $5,409 in Basel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aarau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 41% less in Aarau. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,189 per month in Aarau and $2,533 in Basel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,999 in Aarau and $3,606 in Basel. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aarau costs $2,999 versus $3,606 in Basel. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Aarau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Basel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.