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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Basel costs about 9% more than Arbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.72 CHF 24.22

$30.71 CHF 24.21

0.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$156 CHF 123

$140 CHF 110

11.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.37 CHF 15.27

$17.11 CHF 13.49

13.21%

Cappuccino

$6.75 CHF 5.32

$6.33 CHF 4.99

6.64%

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

$5.67 CHF 4.47

$5.27 CHF 4.15

7.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.02 CHF 3.96

$4.33 CHF 3.41

15.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.09 CHF 7.95

$7.71 CHF 6.08

30.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.45 CHF 5.87

$7.51 CHF 5.92

-0.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.77

$2.17 CHF 1.71

3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 CHF 2.94

$2.66 CHF 2.10

40.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.99 CHF 3.94

$3.64 CHF 2.87

37.09%

Eggs

$8.16 CHF 6.44

$7.87 CHF 6.20

3.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.67 CHF 22.60

$27.41 CHF 21.61

4.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.93 CHF 28.33

$31.88 CHF 25.14

12.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.12 CHF 34.00

$40.41 CHF 31.86

6.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 CHF 3.14

$3.14 CHF 2.47

26.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.60 CHF 2.05

$1.84 CHF 1.45

41.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 CHF 3.35

$2.55 CHF 2.01

66.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.96 CHF 5.49

$6.51 CHF 5.14

6.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 CHF 2.55

$2.50 CHF 1.97

29.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 CHF 2.32

$2.28 CHF 1.80

28.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 CHF 1.98

$2.55 CHF 2.01

-1.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CHF 1.22

$1.15 CHF 0.90

34.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 CHF 9.21

$10.80 CHF 8.51

8.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 CHF 10.89

$11.87 CHF 9.36

16.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 CHF 1.88

$2.25 CHF 1.77

6.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 CHF 2.49

$2.29 CHF 1.81

37.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.58 CHF 3.61

$3.90 CHF 3.07

17.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$105 CHF 82.4

$100 CHF 79.2

4.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.99 CHF 6.30

$6.74 CHF 5.32

18.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.31 CHF 3.40

$4.26 CHF 3.36

1.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.2 CHF 68.8

$80.5 CHF 63.5

8.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.75

$2.11 CHF 1.66

5.69%

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

$40.4K CHF 31.9K

$40.5K CHF 31.9K

-0.12%

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

$44.3K CHF 34.9K

$43.1K CHF 34.0K

2.88%

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

$306 CHF 241

$248 CHF 196

23.19%

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

$53.5 CHF 42.20

$59.2 CHF 46.67

-9.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 CHF 46.40

$53.7 CHF 42.31

9.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.3 CHF 71.2

$87.6 CHF 69.1

2.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$42.50 CHF 33.51

Cinema Ticket

$22.72 CHF 17.91

$22.44 CHF 17.69

1.25%

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

$2,574 CHF 2,029

$2,843 CHF 2,242

-9.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.0K CHF 26.8K

$43.5K CHF 34.3K

-21.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$134 CHF 105

$140 CHF 111

-4.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$88.3 CHF 69.6

$65.8 CHF 51.9

34.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 CHF 143

$133 CHF 105

36.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$227 CHF 179

$162 CHF 127

40.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,112 CHF 1,665

$1,683 CHF 1,327

25.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,519 CHF 1,197

$1,492 CHF 1,176

1.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,828 CHF 3,018

$2,865 CHF 2,259

33.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,802 CHF 2,209

$2,423 CHF 1,910

15.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.1K CHF 15.0K

$14.2K CHF 11.2K

34.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.2K CHF 11.2K

$11.6K CHF 9,140

22.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,292 CHF 6,537

$11.4K CHF 8,986

-27.24%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Arbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,112 in Basel versus $1,683 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 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 $156 in Basel versus $140 in Arbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $685 vs $602 – 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: $3,653 in Basel, $3,362 in Arbon – roughly 9% apart. Basel costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,479 per month in Basel and $5,043 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 $3,653 in Basel and $3,362 in Arbon. 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 $3,653 in Basel and $3,362 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 $3,362 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.