Cost of Living Comparison Between Basel and Wallisellen Cost of Living Comparison Between Basel and Wallisellen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,706 in Basel versus $3,432 in Wallisellen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,904 in Basel versus $5,253 in Wallisellen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,102 in Basel versus $7,073 in Wallisellen.

Living in Basel is roughly 8% more expensive than Wallisellen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Basel 176% above, Wallisellen 155% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.07 CHF 24.67
$30.74 CHF 24.41
1.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$155 CHF 123
$146 CHF 116
6.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.81 CHF 15.72
$18.41 CHF 14.61
7.60%
Cappuccino
$6.98 CHF 5.54
$6.37 CHF 5.06
9.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.69 CHF 4.52
$5.69 CHF 4.51
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00 CHF 3.97
$5.22 CHF 4.14
-4.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.80 CHF 7.78
$7.73 CHF 6.14
26.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.64 CHF 6.07
$8.44 CHF 6.70
-9.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CHF 1.76
$2.25 CHF 1.78
-1.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.85 CHF 3.05
$3.32 CHF 2.64
15.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.00 CHF 3.97
$3.66 CHF 2.91
36.61%
Eggs
$8.00 CHF 6.35
$7.37 CHF 5.85
8.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$28.50 CHF 22.62
$27.53 CHF 21.85
3.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$36.38 CHF 28.88
$32.22 CHF 25.58
12.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$44.61 CHF 35.42
$41.24 CHF 32.74
8.17%
Apples (1kg)
$3.95 CHF 3.14
$3.27 CHF 2.59
20.80%
Banana (1kg)
$2.70 CHF 2.14
$1.86 CHF 1.48
45.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 CHF 3.37
$2.56 CHF 2.03
65.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.84 CHF 5.43
$5.27 CHF 4.19
29.79%
Potato (1kg)
$3.15 CHF 2.50
$2.50 CHF 1.98
26.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 CHF 2.27
$2.35 CHF 1.86
21.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.63 CHF 2.09
$2.60 CHF 2.06
1.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CHF 1.19
$1.14 CHF 0.91
31.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.55 CHF 9.17
$10.76 CHF 8.54
7.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.89 CHF 11.03
$11.78 CHF 9.35
17.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 CHF 1.88
$2.24 CHF 1.78
5.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 CHF 2.43
$2.32 CHF 1.84
31.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.67 CHF 3.71
$3.87 CHF 3.07
20.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$108 CHF 85.7
$97.1 CHF 77.1
11.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.06 CHF 6.40
$6.67 CHF 5.29
20.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.28 CHF 3.40
$4.15 CHF 3.29
3.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$87.2 CHF 69.2
$81.6 CHF 64.8
6.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 CHF 1.76
$2.14 CHF 1.70
3.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.9K CHF 31.7K
$40.2K CHF 31.9K
-0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8K CHF 35.5K
$40.0K CHF 31.7K
12.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$308 CHF 245
$255 CHF 202
20.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.1 CHF 43.74
$36.16 CHF 28.71
52.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.9 CHF 47.51
$52.7 CHF 41.82
13.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$90.5 CHF 71.8
$88.2 CHF 70.0
2.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.81 CHF 33.19
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$23.10 CHF 18.34
$24.69 CHF 19.60
-6.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,555 CHF 2,029
$2,800 CHF 2,223
-8.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.2K CHF 27.2K
$39.3K CHF 31.2K
-13.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$133 CHF 106
$140 CHF 111
-4.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$86.4 CHF 68.6
$62.5 CHF 49.63
38.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$175 CHF 139
$147 CHF 117
19.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$234 CHF 186
$200 CHF 158
17.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,106 CHF 1,672
$1,688 CHF 1,340
24.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,484 CHF 1,178
$1,461 CHF 1,160
1.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,757 CHF 2,982
$2,864 CHF 2,274
31.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,891 CHF 2,295
$2,511 CHF 1,994
15.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.7K CHF 14.8K
$17.8K CHF 14.1K
5.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$14.0K CHF 11.1K
$11.7K CHF 9,287
19.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,072 CHF 6,408
$8,982 CHF 7,131
-10.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.55
2.09
22.01%

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

Last update for Basel: June 8, 2026

Last update for Wallisellen: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,106 in Basel and $1,688 in Wallisellen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wallisellen pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $155 in Basel vs $146 in Wallisellen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $691 vs $607 per month, with Wallisellen 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 Wallisellen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Basel or Wallisellen?
Wallisellen wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Basel. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Wallisellen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Basel or Wallisellen?
On paper, Wallisellen earns 11% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Basel vs Wallisellen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,106 in Basel versus $1,688 in Wallisellen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Basel and Wallisellen?
Childcare runs $2,555 in Basel versus $2,800 in Wallisellen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Basel or Wallisellen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% 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 Wallisellen?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Wallisellen 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 Wallisellen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Wallisellen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,432 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Wallisellen hard to pass up.
How safe is Basel compared to Wallisellen?
Safety-wise, Basel and Wallisellen 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 Wallisellen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Basel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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