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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,606 per month in Basel vs $3,361 in Arbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,819 per month in Basel vs $5,221 in Arbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,033 per month in Basel vs $7,082 in Arbon, rent included.

Basel costs about 7% more than Arbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Basel and Arbon sit above the global median – Basel by 170%, Arbon by 152%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.16 CHF 25.19

$30.53 CHF 24.68

2.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$154 CHF 125

$139 CHF 112

10.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.41 CHF 15.69

$17.34 CHF 14.02

11.94%

Cappuccino

$6.73 CHF 5.44

$6.16 CHF 4.98

9.25%

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

$5.46 CHF 4.42

$5.35 CHF 4.32

2.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.21 CHF 4.21

$4.35 CHF 3.52

19.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.65 CHF 7.80

$7.72 CHF 6.24

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.31 CHF 5.91

$7.19 CHF 5.82

1.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.79

$2.28 CHF 1.84

-3.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.87 CHF 3.13

$2.57 CHF 2.08

50.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.19 CHF 4.19

$3.63 CHF 2.93

42.98%

Eggs

$7.82 CHF 6.33

$7.91 CHF 6.39

-1.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.51 CHF 23.05

$27.75 CHF 22.43

2.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$36.76 CHF 29.72

$32.72 CHF 26.46

12.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$44.22 CHF 35.75

$41.18 CHF 33.29

7.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 CHF 3.16

$3.19 CHF 2.58

22.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 CHF 2.21

$1.83 CHF 1.48

49.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 CHF 3.38

$2.49 CHF 2.02

67.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.99 CHF 5.65

$6.36 CHF 5.14

9.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 CHF 2.64

$2.49 CHF 2.01

30.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 CHF 2.41

$2.38 CHF 1.92

25.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 CHF 2.04

$2.58 CHF 2.09

-2.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 CHF 1.21

$1.15 CHF 0.93

29.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.83 CHF 9.56

$10.80 CHF 8.73

9.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 CHF 11.06

$11.17 CHF 9.03

22.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 CHF 1.96

$2.25 CHF 1.82

7.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 CHF 2.46

$2.33 CHF 1.88

30.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.76 CHF 3.85

$3.89 CHF 3.15

22.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$105 CHF 85.0

$97.0 CHF 78.4

8.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.92 CHF 6.41

$6.71 CHF 5.42

18.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.36 CHF 3.52

$4.24 CHF 3.43

2.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.4 CHF 70.7

$78.8 CHF 63.7

10.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 CHF 1.78

$2.17 CHF 1.76

1.38%

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

$40.8K CHF 33.0K

$39.8K CHF 32.1K

2.62%

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

$45.1K CHF 36.5K

$42.9K CHF 34.7K

5.10%

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

$302 CHF 244

$251 CHF 203

20.50%

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

$54.0 CHF 43.66

$59.3 CHF 47.97

-9.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 CHF 47.60

$54.0 CHF 43.68

8.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 CHF 73.5

$89.4 CHF 72.3

1.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.38 CHF 33.46

Cinema Ticket

$23.17 CHF 18.73

$22.30 CHF 18.03

3.90%

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

$2,533 CHF 2,048

$2,789 CHF 2,255

-9.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.8K CHF 27.4K

$42.8K CHF 34.6K

-21.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$135 CHF 110

$137 CHF 111

-0.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$87.6 CHF 70.9

$64.4 CHF 52.1

36.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$180 CHF 145

$131 CHF 106

37.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$230 CHF 186

$161 CHF 130

42.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,103 CHF 1,701

$1,702 CHF 1,376

23.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 CHF 1,222

$1,445 CHF 1,169

4.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,742 CHF 3,025

$2,874 CHF 2,324

30.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,829 CHF 2,288

$2,437 CHF 1,971

16.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K CHF 15.2K

$14.8K CHF 12.0K

26.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.6K CHF 11.8K

$10.6K CHF 8,587

37.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,175 CHF 5,801

$11.3K CHF 9,150

-36.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.55

2.5

2.00%

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

Last update for Basel: July 12, 2026

Last update for Arbon: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,103 in Basel versus $1,702 in Arbon. 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 58% 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 $154 in Basel versus $139 in Arbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $692 vs $608 – 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

Basel vs Arbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,606 in Basel, $3,361 in Arbon – roughly 7% apart. Basel costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,409 per month in Basel and $5,041 in Arbon. 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 $3,606 in Basel and $3,361 in Arbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 8% 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 $3,606 in Basel and $3,361 in Arbon. 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 $3,361 in Arbon to $3,606 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.