Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Basel and Martigny

For one person, living is cheaper in Martigny: $3,297 a month against $3,709 in Basel, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Basel, Switzerland
Martigny, Switzerland
Basel
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,709
/mo nomad
Martigny
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,297
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Basel and in Martigny

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Basel and in Martigny actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,709 in Basel versus $3,297 in Martigny.

  • Basel $3,709
  • Martigny $3,297

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,695 in Basel versus $5,061 in Martigny.

  • Basel $5,695
  • Martigny $5,061

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,682 in Basel versus $6,825 in Martigny.

  • Basel $7,682
  • Martigny $6,825

Living in Basel is roughly 12% more expensive than in Martigny, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Basel 174% above, Martigny 144% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.43 CHF 24.86
$34.17 CHF 27.91
-10.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$129 CHF 105
$106 CHF 86.3
22.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.53 CHF 15.14
$19.33 CHF 15.79
-4.14%
Cappuccino
$6.34 CHF 5.18
$4.68 CHF 3.82
35.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.44 CHF 5.26
$4.99 CHF 4.08
29.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.19 CHF 5.06
$4.34 CHF 3.55
42.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.69 CHF 7.92
$7.48 CHF 6.11
29.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.64 CHF 7.87
$6.00 CHF 4.90
60.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 CHF 1.84
$2.22 CHF 1.81
1.35%
White Bread (500g)
$3.18 CHF 2.60
$3.66 CHF 2.99
-13.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.33 CHF 2.72
$2.51 CHF 2.05
32.67%
Eggs
$8.20 CHF 6.70
$4.27 CHF 3.49
92.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.64 CHF 21.76
$24.25 CHF 19.81
9.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$27.19 CHF 22.21
$19.23 CHF 15.71
41.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.07 CHF 33.55
$30.12 CHF 24.61
36.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.57 CHF 2.91
$3.27 CHF 2.67
9.17%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 CHF 1.87
$1.67 CHF 1.37
37.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 CHF 2.41
$2.50 CHF 2.04
18.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 CHF 3.79
$6.57 CHF 5.37
-29.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 CHF 1.14
$1.81 CHF 1.48
-23.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 CHF 1.57
$2.22 CHF 1.81
-13.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 CHF 1.87
$1.20 CHF 0.98
90.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 CHF 1.34
$1.18 CHF 0.96
38.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.52 CHF 9.41
$10.78 CHF 8.81
6.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.01 CHF 9.81
$12.14 CHF 9.91
-1.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 CHF 2.11
$1.20 CHF 0.98
115.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 CHF 2.57
$2.39 CHF 1.95
31.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Basel
Martigny
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.20 CHF 4.25
$4.64 CHF 3.79
12.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$106 CHF 86.6
$107 CHF 87.1
-0.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 CHF 6.56
$7.37 CHF 6.02
8.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.60 CHF 3.76
$5.66 CHF 4.62
-18.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$86.6 CHF 70.7
$80.1 CHF 65.4
8.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.36 CHF 1.93
$2.35 CHF 1.92
0.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.5K CHF 32.2K
$38.7K CHF 31.6K
1.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K CHF 32.6K
$40.2K CHF 32.8K
-0.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$293 CHF 239
$336 CHF 275
-12.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.83 CHF 37.44
$25.48 CHF 20.81
79.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.1 CHF 53.2
$49.69 CHF 40.59
31.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.8 CHF 67.7
$94.8 CHF 77.5
-12.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$58.7 CHF 47.93
$40.96 CHF 33.47
43.21%
Cinema Ticket
$23.03 CHF 18.81
$20.57 CHF 16.81
11.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,165 CHF 2,586
$3,299 CHF 2,695
-4.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$36.5K CHF 29.8K
$42.6K CHF 34.8K
-14.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$148 CHF 121
$111 CHF 91.0
32.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.0 CHF 66.2
$49.38 CHF 40.34
63.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$161 CHF 131
$170 CHF 139
-5.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$203 CHF 166
$172 CHF 141
17.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Basel
Martigny
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,144 CHF 1,752
$1,842 CHF 1,505
16.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,672 CHF 1,366
$1,410 CHF 1,152
18.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 CHF 2,972
$2,952 CHF 2,411
23.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,971 CHF 2,427
$2,614 CHF 2,136
13.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.2K CHF 14.8K
$14.2K CHF 11.6K
28.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$13.4K CHF 11.0K
$11.5K CHF 9,415
16.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,781 CHF 5,540
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.42
2.37
2.11%

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

Last update for Basel: November 2, 2026

Last update for Martigny: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Basel
$1.7K
Martigny
$1.4K 15.7% $262
Groceries & Markets
Basel
$586
Martigny
$478 18.4% $108
Eating Out
Basel
$493
Martigny
$474 3.9% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Basel
$404
Martigny
$412 1.9% $7.8
Clothing & Footwear
Basel
$267
Martigny
$226 15.2% $41
Getting Around
Basel
$158
Martigny
$161 1.9% $3
Sport & Entertainment
Basel
$129
Martigny
$136 5.5% $7.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,144 in Basel and $1,842 in Martigny. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $129 in Basel vs $106 in Martigny for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $586 vs $478 per month, with Martigny cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Basel
🇨🇭 Martigny
🕒 Local time
14:28 2:28 PM
14:28 2:28 PM
Same time as Basel
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
174,491
14,361
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 0.817 CHF (1 CHF = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 0.916 CHF (1 CHF = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Basel Martigny 170 km
From you
  • Basel
  • Martigny

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Martigny: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Basel or Martigny?
Martigny wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Basel. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Martigny the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Basel and in Martigny?
You’d need roughly $5,563 in Basel and $4,946 in Martigny to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Basel compared to Martigny?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,144 in Basel versus $1,842 in Martigny. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Basel and in Martigny?
Childcare runs $3,165 in Basel versus $3,299 in Martigny. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Basel and in Martigny?
Dining out is cheaper in Martigny – a meal for two runs $106 versus $129 in Basel. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Basel or in Martigny?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Martigny is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Basel or Martigny?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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