Cost of Living Comparison Between Basel and Lugano Cost of Living Comparison Between Basel and Lugano

😐 Solo nomad: Basel is 6.7% more expensive than Lugano without rent, and 16% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Basel is 5.1% more expensive than Lugano without rent, and 6.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.25 CHF 25.41

$30.54 CHF 24.83

2.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$156 CHF 127

$184 CHF 149

-15.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.97 CHF 16.24

$18.53 CHF 15.07

7.77%

Cappuccino

$6.94 CHF 5.65

$4.24 CHF 3.45

63.68%

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

$5.53 CHF 4.49

$4.7 CHF 3.82

17.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.98 CHF 4.05

$4.06 CHF 3.3

22.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.15 CHF 8.26

$7.18 CHF 5.84

41.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.31 CHF 5.94

$7.59 CHF 6.17

-3.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.84

$2.26 CHF 1.84

0.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 CHF 3.04

$3.51 CHF 2.86

6.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.06 CHF 4.12

$4.72 CHF 3.84

7.20%

Eggs

$7.78 CHF 6.32

$6.69 CHF 5.44

16.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.37 CHF 23.06

$27.42 CHF 22.29

3.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$37 CHF 30.08

$37.36 CHF 30.38

-0.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.73 CHF 35.55

$47.43 CHF 38.56

-7.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.86 CHF 3.14

$3.23 CHF 2.63

19.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.7 CHF 2.2

$2.02 CHF 1.64

33.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 CHF 3.3

$2.51 CHF 2.04

61.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.86 CHF 5.58

$7.37 CHF 6

-6.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 CHF 2.54

$2.19 CHF 1.78

42.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 CHF 2.33

$2.26 CHF 1.84

26.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CHF 2.16

$2.56 CHF 2.08

3.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 CHF 1.21

$1.3 CHF 1.05

13.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.76 CHF 9.56

$10.78 CHF 8.76

9.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.36 CHF 12.49

$10.91 CHF 8.87

40.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 CHF 1.9

$2.66 CHF 2.16

-12.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 CHF 2.45

$4.19 CHF 3.4

-28.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.8 CHF 3.91

$3.26 CHF 2.65

47.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$105 CHF 85.4

$86.8 CHF 70.5

21.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.9 CHF 6.42

$6.6 CHF 5.37

19.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.12 CHF 3.35

$4.47 CHF 3.64

-7.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.7 CHF 71.3

$60.9 CHF 49.49

44.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.81

$2.21 CHF 1.8

0.90%

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

$40.7K CHF 33.1K

$39.8K CHF 32.3K

2.27%

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

$45.6K CHF 37.1K

$37.9K CHF 30.8K

20.29%

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

$309 CHF 251

$203 CHF 165

52.24%

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

$54.1 CHF 44

$73.2 CHF 59.5

-26.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.6 CHF 48.5

$55.1 CHF 44.78

8.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.4 CHF 71.9

$111 CHF 90

-20.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$42.41 CHF 34.49

$62 CHF 50.4

-31.55%

Cinema Ticket

$23.02 CHF 18.71

$18.76 CHF 15.25

22.71%

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

$2,539 CHF 2,064

$1,245 CHF 1,012

104.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.5K CHF 28K

$35.5K CHF 28.8K

-2.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$136 CHF 111

$126 CHF 103

7.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$87.7 CHF 71.3

$47.68 CHF 38.77

83.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$178 CHF 145

$133 CHF 108

34.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$228 CHF 185

$151 CHF 123

50.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,108 CHF 1,714

$1,648 CHF 1,340

27.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,500 CHF 1,220

$1,256 CHF 1,021

19.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,798 CHF 3,088

$2,885 CHF 2,345

31.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,881 CHF 2,343

$2,649 CHF 2,154

8.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$21K CHF 17.1K

$17.6K CHF 14.3K

19.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17K CHF 13.8K

$18.8K CHF 15.3K

-9.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,088 CHF 6,576

$7,350 CHF 5,976

10.04%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lugano: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Zurich

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Geneva

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Lucerne

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Zug

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Ashgabat

🇹🇲 Turkmenistan

Vaduz

🇱🇮 Liechtenstein

Niaqornaarsuk

🇬🇱 Greenland

Ilulissat

🇬🇱 Greenland