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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,472 per month in Altstätten vs $3,706 in Basel, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,343 per month in Altstätten vs $5,904 in Basel, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,214 per month in Altstätten vs $8,102 in Basel, rent included.

Altstätten is about 6% cheaper than Basel, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Altstätten and Basel sit above the global median – Altstätten by 158%, Basel by 176%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.06 CHF 24.66

$31.07 CHF 24.67

-0.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 CHF 114

$155 CHF 123

-7.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.18 CHF 14.44

$19.81 CHF 15.72

-8.23%

Cappuccino

$6.09 CHF 4.84

$6.98 CHF 5.54

-12.75%

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

$5.39 CHF 4.28

$5.69 CHF 4.52

-5.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 CHF 3.76

$5.00 CHF 3.97

-5.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.33 CHF 6.62

$9.80 CHF 7.78

-15.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.23 CHF 5.74

$7.64 CHF 6.07

-5.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 CHF 1.69

$2.22 CHF 1.76

-4.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 CHF 2.84

$3.85 CHF 3.05

-7.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.14 CHF 3.28

$5.00 CHF 3.97

-17.20%

Eggs

$7.53 CHF 5.98

$8.00 CHF 6.35

-5.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.23 CHF 23.21

$28.50 CHF 22.62

2.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.90 CHF 26.12

$36.38 CHF 28.88

-9.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$47.54 CHF 37.74

$44.61 CHF 35.42

6.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 CHF 2.99

$3.95 CHF 3.14

-4.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.27 CHF 1.80

$2.70 CHF 2.14

-15.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 CHF 2.30

$4.24 CHF 3.37

-31.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.14 CHF 4.87

$6.84 CHF 5.43

-10.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 CHF 1.92

$3.15 CHF 2.50

-23.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 CHF 1.95

$2.86 CHF 2.27

-14.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CHF 2.06

$2.63 CHF 2.09

-1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 CHF 1.04

$1.50 CHF 1.19

-12.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.18 CHF 8.87

$11.55 CHF 9.17

-3.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 CHF 10.96

$13.89 CHF 11.03

-0.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 CHF 1.93

$2.37 CHF 1.88

2.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 CHF 2.55

$3.06 CHF 2.43

5.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.95 CHF 3.13

$4.67 CHF 3.71

-15.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.5 CHF 77.4

$108 CHF 85.7

-9.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 CHF 6.11

$8.06 CHF 6.40

-4.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.17 CHF 3.31

$4.28 CHF 3.40

-2.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$79.5 CHF 63.2

$87.2 CHF 69.2

-8.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.74

$2.22 CHF 1.76

-1.35%

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

$40.6K CHF 32.2K

$39.9K CHF 31.7K

1.59%

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

$40.9K CHF 32.4K

$44.8K CHF 35.5K

-8.73%

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

$256 CHF 203

$308 CHF 245

-17.10%

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

$48.37 CHF 38.40

$55.1 CHF 43.74

-12.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.7 CHF 45.80

$59.9 CHF 47.51

-3.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.9 CHF 70.6

$90.5 CHF 71.8

-1.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.81 CHF 33.19

Cinema Ticket

$22.76 CHF 18.07

$23.10 CHF 18.34

-1.47%

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

$2,854 CHF 2,266

$2,555 CHF 2,029

11.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.8K CHF 27.6K

$34.2K CHF 27.2K

1.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 CHF 111

$133 CHF 106

4.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.7 CHF 53.0

$86.4 CHF 68.6

-22.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$146 CHF 116

$175 CHF 139

-16.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$189 CHF 150

$234 CHF 186

-19.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,732 CHF 1,375

$2,106 CHF 1,672

-17.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 CHF 1,184

$1,484 CHF 1,178

0.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,863 CHF 2,273

$3,757 CHF 2,982

-23.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,432 CHF 1,931

$2,891 CHF 2,295

-15.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.9K CHF 11.8K

$18.7K CHF 14.8K

-20.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.5K CHF 8,351

$14.0K CHF 11.1K

-24.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,072 CHF 6,408

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Basel: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,732 in Altstätten versus $2,106 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 $144 in Altstätten versus $155 in Basel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $658 vs $691 – 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 7%, 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 $5,208 per month in Altstätten and $5,558 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 $3,472 in Altstätten and $3,706 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 $3,472 in Altstätten and $3,706 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.