Cost of Living Comparison Between Altstätten and Basel Cost of Living Comparison Between Altstätten and Basel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,454 per month in Altstätten vs $3,725 in Basel, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,350 per month in Altstätten vs $5,789 in Basel, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,246 per month in Altstätten vs $7,853 in Basel, rent included.

Altstätten is about 7% cheaper than Basel, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Altstätten and Basel sit above the global median – Altstätten by 159%, Basel by 180%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.94 CHF 24.97

$31.01 CHF 25.03

-0.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 CHF 115

$154 CHF 124

-7.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.68 CHF 15.08

$19.45 CHF 15.69

-3.96%

Cappuccino

$6.08 CHF 4.90

$6.66 CHF 5.38

-8.71%

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

$5.25 CHF 4.24

$5.74 CHF 4.63

-8.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 CHF 3.93

$5.00 CHF 4.04

-2.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 CHF 6.60

$9.58 CHF 7.73

-14.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.28 CHF 5.88

$7.70 CHF 6.21

-5.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 CHF 1.75

$2.22 CHF 1.79

-2.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 CHF 2.90

$3.74 CHF 3.02

-4.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.08 CHF 3.29

$5.00 CHF 4.04

-18.40%

Eggs

$7.32 CHF 5.91

$7.91 CHF 6.39

-7.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.14 CHF 23.51

$29.24 CHF 23.60

-0.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.97 CHF 26.61

$37.30 CHF 30.10

-11.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$47.40 CHF 38.25

$43.14 CHF 34.81

9.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.81 CHF 3.07

$3.84 CHF 3.10

-0.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.34 CHF 1.89

$2.60 CHF 2.10

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 CHF 2.34

$4.05 CHF 3.27

-28.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.23 CHF 5.03

$6.86 CHF 5.54

-9.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 CHF 2.04

$3.22 CHF 2.60

-21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 CHF 1.96

$2.84 CHF 2.29

-14.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 CHF 2.03

$2.63 CHF 2.12

-4.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 CHF 1.08

$1.49 CHF 1.20

-10.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.91 CHF 8.81

$11.56 CHF 9.33

-5.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.89 CHF 10.40

$13.33 CHF 10.76

-3.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 CHF 1.90

$2.34 CHF 1.89

0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 CHF 2.59

$3.04 CHF 2.45

5.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.00 CHF 3.23

$4.56 CHF 3.68

-12.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.0 CHF 78.3

$108 CHF 86.8

-9.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 CHF 6.37

$8.05 CHF 6.50

-1.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.14 CHF 3.34

$4.19 CHF 3.38

-1.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$80.6 CHF 65.0

$85.8 CHF 69.2

-6.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.15 CHF 1.74

$2.19 CHF 1.77

-1.83%

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

$40.2K CHF 32.5K

$40.7K CHF 32.8K

-1.12%

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

$42.1K CHF 34.0K

$44.9K CHF 36.2K

-6.16%

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

$258 CHF 208

$303 CHF 245

-14.98%

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

$49.09 CHF 39.61

$53.2 CHF 42.90

-7.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.8 CHF 48.26

$58.5 CHF 47.23

2.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.6 CHF 70.7

$90.7 CHF 73.2

-3.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.3 CHF 40.60

$42.34 CHF 34.17

18.82%

Cinema Ticket

$22.51 CHF 18.17

$22.39 CHF 18.07

0.54%

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

$2,948 CHF 2,379

$2,538 CHF 2,048

16.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.8K CHF 28.1K

$34.4K CHF 27.8K

1.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$134 CHF 108

$135 CHF 109

-0.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.2 CHF 54.3

$89.2 CHF 71.9

-24.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$151 CHF 121

$175 CHF 141

-13.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$190 CHF 154

$227 CHF 183

-15.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 CHF 1,363

$2,105 CHF 1,699

-19.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 CHF 1,201

$1,498 CHF 1,209

-0.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,867 CHF 2,313

$3,749 CHF 3,025

-23.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 CHF 1,954

$2,888 CHF 2,331

-16.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.8K CHF 10.4K

$18.3K CHF 14.8K

-29.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K CHF 9,330

$14.3K CHF 11.5K

-19.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,099 CHF 5,729

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 Altstätten: July 27, 2026

Last update for Basel: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,689 in Altstätten versus $2,105 in Basel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in Altstätten versus $154 in Basel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $656 vs $689 – making Altstätten 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

Altstätten vs Basel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Basel is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,181 per month in Altstätten and $5,588 in Basel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,454 in Altstätten and $3,725 in Basel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Altstätten. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,454 in Altstätten and $3,725 in Basel. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Altstätten – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Altstätten. 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.