Cost of Living Comparison Between Basel and Martigny Cost of Living Comparison Between Basel and Martigny

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,706 in Basel versus $3,169 in Martigny.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,904 in Basel versus $4,887 in Martigny.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,102 in Basel versus $6,606 in Martigny.

Living in Basel is roughly 17% more expensive than Martigny, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Basel 176% above, Martigny 136% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.07 CHF 24.67
$31.07 CHF 24.67
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$155 CHF 123
$129 CHF 102
20.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.81 CHF 15.72
$18.15 CHF 14.41
9.15%
Cappuccino
$6.98 CHF 5.54
$4.33 CHF 3.44
61.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.69 CHF 4.52
$4.93 CHF 3.92
15.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00 CHF 3.97
$4.01 CHF 3.18
24.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.80 CHF 7.78
$7.58 CHF 6.02
29.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.64 CHF 6.07
$7.31 CHF 5.80
4.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CHF 1.76
$2.27 CHF 1.80
-2.20%
White Bread (500g)
$3.85 CHF 3.05
$3.63 CHF 2.88
6.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.00 CHF 3.97
$4.80 CHF 3.81
4.17%
Eggs
$8.00 CHF 6.35
$6.96 CHF 5.52
14.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$28.50 CHF 22.62
$27.13 CHF 21.54
5.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$36.38 CHF 28.88
$22.46 CHF 17.83
61.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$44.61 CHF 35.42
$35.54 CHF 28.22
25.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.95 CHF 3.14
$3.21 CHF 2.55
23.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.70 CHF 2.14
$2.00 CHF 1.59
35.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 CHF 3.37
$2.61 CHF 2.07
62.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.84 CHF 5.43
$7.50 CHF 5.95
-8.80%
Potato (1kg)
$3.15 CHF 2.50
$2.21 CHF 1.76
42.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 CHF 2.27
$2.24 CHF 1.78
27.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.63 CHF 2.09
$2.62 CHF 2.08
0.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CHF 1.19
$0.35 CHF 0.28
328.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.55 CHF 9.17
$11.05 CHF 8.77
4.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.89 CHF 11.03
$12.52 CHF 9.94
10.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 CHF 1.88
$2.63 CHF 2.09
-9.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 CHF 2.43
$4.21 CHF 3.34
-27.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Basel
Martigny
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.67 CHF 3.71
$4.01 CHF 3.19
16.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$108 CHF 85.7
$100 CHF 79.5
7.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.06 CHF 6.40
$6.71 CHF 5.33
20.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.28 CHF 3.40
$4.37 CHF 3.47
-2.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$87.2 CHF 69.2
$61.5 CHF 48.79
41.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 CHF 1.76
$2.13 CHF 1.69
4.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.9K CHF 31.7K
$39.8K CHF 31.6K
0.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8K CHF 35.5K
$37.8K CHF 30.0K
18.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$308 CHF 245
$125 CHF 99.1
147.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.1 CHF 43.74
$72.2 CHF 57.3
-23.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.9 CHF 47.51
$54.1 CHF 42.94
10.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$90.5 CHF 71.8
$87.4 CHF 69.4
3.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.81 CHF 33.19
$43.55 CHF 34.58
-4.00%
Cinema Ticket
$23.10 CHF 18.34
$18.70 CHF 14.84
23.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,555 CHF 2,029
$1,251 CHF 993
104.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.2K CHF 27.2K
$34.8K CHF 27.7K
-1.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$133 CHF 106
$123 CHF 97.6
8.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$86.4 CHF 68.6
$48.11 CHF 38.19
79.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$175 CHF 139
$134 CHF 106
31.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$234 CHF 186
$151 CHF 120
54.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Basel
Martigny
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,106 CHF 1,672
$1,704 CHF 1,353
23.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,484 CHF 1,178
$1,427 CHF 1,133
4.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,757 CHF 2,982
$2,783 CHF 2,210
34.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,891 CHF 2,295
$2,454 CHF 1,948
17.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.7K CHF 14.8K
$17.8K CHF 14.2K
4.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$14.0K CHF 11.1K
$10.3K CHF 8,203
35.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Basel
Martigny
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,072 CHF 6,408
-
-
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Martigny: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,106 in Basel and $1,704 in Martigny. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $155 in Basel vs $129 in Martigny for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $691 vs $555 per month, with Martigny cheaper across the board.

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 17% 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 vs Martigny?
You'd need roughly $5,558 in Basel and $4,753 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 vs Martigny?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,106 in Basel versus $1,704 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 Martigny?
Childcare runs $2,555 in Basel versus $1,251 in Martigny. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Basel or Martigny?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Basel. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Basel or 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 is better for digital nomads, Basel or Martigny?
Both work as nomad bases, but Martigny delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,169 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Martigny hard to pass up.
How safe is Basel compared to Martigny?
Safety-wise, Basel and Martigny are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Martigny gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Basel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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