Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Basel Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Basel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,362 per month in Arbon vs $3,653 in Basel, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,166 per month in Arbon vs $5,857 in Basel, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,970 per month in Arbon vs $8,062 in Basel, rent included.

Arbon is about 8% cheaper than Basel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arbon and Basel sit above the global median – Arbon by 151%, Basel by 173%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.71 CHF 24.21

$30.72 CHF 24.22

-0.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$140 CHF 110

$156 CHF 123

-10.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.11 CHF 13.49

$19.37 CHF 15.27

-11.67%

Cappuccino

$6.33 CHF 4.99

$6.75 CHF 5.32

-6.22%

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

$5.27 CHF 4.15

$5.67 CHF 4.47

-7.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 CHF 3.41

$5.02 CHF 3.96

-13.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.71 CHF 6.08

$10.09 CHF 7.95

-23.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.51 CHF 5.92

$7.45 CHF 5.87

0.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 CHF 1.71

$2.24 CHF 1.77

-3.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 CHF 2.10

$3.73 CHF 2.94

-28.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.64 CHF 2.87

$4.99 CHF 3.94

-27.05%

Eggs

$7.87 CHF 6.20

$8.16 CHF 6.44

-3.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.41 CHF 21.61

$28.67 CHF 22.60

-4.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$31.88 CHF 25.14

$35.93 CHF 28.33

-11.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$40.41 CHF 31.86

$43.12 CHF 34.00

-6.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 CHF 2.47

$3.98 CHF 3.14

-21.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 CHF 1.45

$2.60 CHF 2.05

-29.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 CHF 2.01

$4.24 CHF 3.35

-39.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.51 CHF 5.14

$6.96 CHF 5.49

-6.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CHF 1.97

$3.23 CHF 2.55

-22.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 CHF 1.80

$2.94 CHF 2.32

-22.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 CHF 2.01

$2.51 CHF 1.98

1.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 CHF 0.90

$1.55 CHF 1.22

-25.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.80 CHF 8.51

$11.68 CHF 9.21

-7.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.87 CHF 9.36

$13.81 CHF 10.89

-14.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CHF 1.77

$2.39 CHF 1.88

-5.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 CHF 1.81

$3.16 CHF 2.49

-27.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.90 CHF 3.07

$4.58 CHF 3.61

-14.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 CHF 79.2

$105 CHF 82.4

-3.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 CHF 5.32

$7.99 CHF 6.30

-15.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.26 CHF 3.36

$4.31 CHF 3.40

-1.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$80.5 CHF 63.5

$87.2 CHF 68.8

-7.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.11 CHF 1.66

$2.23 CHF 1.75

-5.38%

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

$40.5K CHF 31.9K

$40.4K CHF 31.9K

0.12%

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

$43.1K CHF 34.0K

$44.3K CHF 34.9K

-2.80%

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

$248 CHF 196

$306 CHF 241

-18.82%

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

$59.2 CHF 46.67

$53.5 CHF 42.20

10.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CHF 42.31

$58.9 CHF 46.40

-8.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.6 CHF 69.1

$90.3 CHF 71.2

-2.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$42.50 CHF 33.51

Cinema Ticket

$22.44 CHF 17.69

$22.72 CHF 17.91

-1.23%

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

$2,843 CHF 2,242

$2,574 CHF 2,029

10.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.5K CHF 34.3K

$34.0K CHF 26.8K

27.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 CHF 111

$134 CHF 105

5.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.8 CHF 51.9

$88.3 CHF 69.6

-25.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 CHF 105

$181 CHF 143

-26.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 CHF 127

$227 CHF 179

-28.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 CHF 1,327

$2,112 CHF 1,665

-20.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 CHF 1,176

$1,519 CHF 1,197

-1.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,865 CHF 2,259

$3,828 CHF 3,018

-25.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,423 CHF 1,910

$2,802 CHF 2,209

-13.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.2K CHF 11.2K

$19.1K CHF 15.0K

-25.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.6K CHF 9,140

$14.2K CHF 11.2K

-18.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$11.4K CHF 8,986

$8,292 CHF 6,537

37.45%

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 Arbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Basel: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,683 in Arbon versus $2,112 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 37% higher in Arbon, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $140 in Arbon versus $156 in Basel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $602 vs $685 – making Arbon 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

Arbon vs Basel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,362 in Arbon, $3,653 in Basel – roughly 9% apart. Basel costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,043 per month in Arbon and $5,479 in Basel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arbon, 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 $3,362 in Arbon and $3,653 in Basel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Arbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,362 in Arbon and $3,653 in Basel. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Basel has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,362 in Arbon to $3,653 in Basel. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Arbon. 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.