🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,543 in Acquarossa versus $3,706 in Basel.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,393 in Acquarossa versus $5,904 in Basel.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,242 in Acquarossa versus $8,102 in Basel.
🙂Living in Acquarossa costs roughly 4% less than in Basel, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Acquarossa164% above, Basel176% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acquarossa
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.86CHF 24.50
$31.07CHF 24.67
-0.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$146CHF 116
$155CHF 123
-5.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$21.05CHF 16.71
$19.81CHF 15.72
6.26%
Cappuccino
$6.88CHF 5.46
$6.98CHF 5.54
-1.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09CHF 4.83
$5.69CHF 4.52
7.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30CHF 4.21
$5.00CHF 3.97
6.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.67CHF 7.67
$9.80CHF 7.78
-1.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.65CHF 6.87
$7.64CHF 6.07
13.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acquarossa
Basel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.25CHF 1.79
$2.22CHF 1.76
1.35%
White Bread(500g)
$3.36CHF 2.67
$3.85CHF 3.05
-12.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.98CHF 3.16
$5.00CHF 3.97
-20.40%
Eggs
$7.46CHF 5.92
$8.00CHF 6.35
-6.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.90CHF 23.74
$28.50CHF 22.62
4.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$34.22CHF 27.17
$36.38CHF 28.88
-5.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$50.8CHF 40.30
$44.61CHF 35.42
13.81%
Apples(1kg)
$4.04CHF 3.21
$3.95CHF 3.14
2.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86CHF 2.27
$2.70CHF 2.14
5.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.08CHF 2.45
$4.24CHF 3.37
-27.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04CHF 4.00
$6.84CHF 5.43
-26.32%
Potato(1kg)
$2.84CHF 2.26
$3.15CHF 2.50
-9.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.36CHF 1.87
$2.86CHF 2.27
-17.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.46CHF 1.96
$2.63CHF 2.09
-6.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73CHF 1.38
$1.50CHF 1.19
15.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.95CHF 8.69
$11.55CHF 9.17
-5.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.21CHF 12.08
$13.89CHF 11.03
9.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74CHF 2.18
$2.37CHF 1.88
15.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18CHF 2.53
$3.06CHF 2.43
3.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Acquarossa
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.95CHF 3.14
$4.67CHF 3.71
-15.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$98.7CHF 78.4
$108CHF 85.7
-8.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.65CHF 6.07
$8.06CHF 6.40
-5.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.26CHF 3.38
$4.28CHF 3.40
-0.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$89.4CHF 70.9
$87.2CHF 69.2
2.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30CHF 1.82
$2.22CHF 1.76
3.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2KCHF 32.7K
$39.9KCHF 31.7K
3.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2KCHF 31.1K
$44.8KCHF 35.5K
-12.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acquarossa
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$255CHF 203
$308CHF 245
-17.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.05CHF 28.62
$55.1CHF 43.74
-34.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6CHF 45.74
$59.9CHF 47.51
-3.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acquarossa
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.0CHF 69.9
$90.5CHF 71.8
-2.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$41.81CHF 33.19
-
Cinema Ticket
$25.10CHF 19.92
$23.10CHF 18.34
8.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acquarossa
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,439CHF 2,730
$2,555CHF 2,029
34.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$39.6KCHF 31.4K
$34.2KCHF 27.2K
15.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acquarossa
Basel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$137CHF 109
$133CHF 106
2.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7CHF 42.59
$86.4CHF 68.6
-37.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$150CHF 119
$175CHF 139
-14.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$198CHF 157
$234CHF 186
-15.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acquarossa
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704CHF 1,353
$2,106CHF 1,672
-19.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,487CHF 1,181
$1,484CHF 1,178
0.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,853CHF 2,265
$3,757CHF 2,982
-24.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,422CHF 1,922
$2,891CHF 2,295
-16.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.8KCHF 11.0K
$18.7KCHF 14.8K
-25.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.2KCHF 8,095
$14.0KCHF 11.1K
-27.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acquarossa
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$12.3KCHF 9,754
$8,072CHF 6,408
52.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.09
2.55
-18.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Acquarossa: June 9, 2026
Last update for Basel: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,704 in Acquarossa and $2,106 in Basel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Acquarossa pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $146 in Acquarossa vs $155 in Basel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $684 vs $691 per month, with Acquarossa cheaper across the board.
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
Acquarossa vs Basel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Acquarossa or Basel?
Acquarossa wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Basel. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Acquarossa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Acquarossa or Basel?
Acquarossa pays 52% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Acquarossa vs Basel?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,704 in Acquarossa versus $2,106 in Basel. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Acquarossa or Basel?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Basel. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Acquarossa vs Basel?
Dining out is cheaper in Acquarossa – a meal for two runs $146 versus $155 in Basel. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Acquarossa or Basel?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Acquarossa is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Acquarossa or Basel?
Both work as nomad bases, but Acquarossa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,543 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Acquarossa hard to pass up.
How safe is Acquarossa compared to Basel?
Safety-wise, Acquarossa and Basel are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Acquarossa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Basel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Acquarossa vs other spots: cost of living compared