😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,544 in Basel versus $3,427 in Wallisellen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,518 in Basel versus $5,229 in Wallisellen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,492 in Basel versus $7,030 in Wallisellen.
🌍Living in Basel is roughly 3% more expensive than in Wallisellen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Basel157% above, Wallisellen149% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.93CHF 24.42
$31.17CHF 25.44
-3.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$125CHF 102
$125CHF 102
0.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.69CHF 15.25
$18.48CHF 15.08
1.14%
Cappuccino
$6.73CHF 5.49
$6.16CHF 5.03
9.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33CHF 5.17
$5.66CHF 4.62
11.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86CHF 4.78
$5.03CHF 4.10
16.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.34CHF 7.62
$8.74CHF 7.13
6.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.07CHF 8.22
$9.44CHF 7.71
6.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32CHF 1.89
$2.27CHF 1.85
2.20%
White Bread(500g)
$3.05CHF 2.49
$4.01CHF 3.27
-23.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32CHF 2.71
$4.29CHF 3.50
-22.61%
Eggs
$8.34CHF 6.80
$7.54CHF 6.15
10.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.21CHF 21.39
$26.69CHF 21.78
-1.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$27.85CHF 22.73
$26.60CHF 21.71
4.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$42.56CHF 34.73
$41.41CHF 33.79
2.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66CHF 2.99
$3.62CHF 2.96
1.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40CHF 1.96
$2.16CHF 1.76
11.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99CHF 2.44
$2.68CHF 2.19
11.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.83CHF 3.94
$4.92CHF 4.02
-1.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79CHF 1.46
$2.01CHF 1.64
-10.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95CHF 1.59
$2.22CHF 1.81
-12.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33CHF 1.90
$2.36CHF 1.92
-1.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66CHF 1.36
$1.18CHF 0.97
40.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.63CHF 9.49
$11.25CHF 9.18
3.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.24CHF 9.99
$13.22CHF 10.79
-7.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49CHF 2.03
$2.23CHF 1.82
11.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18CHF 2.59
$2.81CHF 2.29
13.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.44CHF 3.63
$4.53CHF 3.70
-1.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$108CHF 88.3
$103CHF 83.8
5.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.99CHF 6.52
$5.55CHF 4.53
43.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.59CHF 3.75
$3.55CHF 2.89
29.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$88.0CHF 71.8
$62.7CHF 51.2
40.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29CHF 1.87
$2.24CHF 1.83
2.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.2KCHF 36.1K
$43.1KCHF 35.2K
2.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6KCHF 32.3K
$40.7KCHF 33.2K
-2.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$299CHF 244
$240CHF 196
24.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3CHF 43.47
$31.70CHF 25.87
68.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.0CHF 53.9
$65.8CHF 53.7
0.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$85.8CHF 70.0
$100CHF 81.6
-14.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$59.0CHF 48.17
$48.11CHF 39.27
22.70%
Cinema Ticket
$23.81CHF 19.44
$22.68CHF 18.51
4.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,026CHF 2,470
$1,882CHF 1,536
60.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$33.3KCHF 27.1K
$33.7KCHF 27.5K
-1.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$147CHF 120
$145CHF 118
1.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.6CHF 66.6
$90.2CHF 73.6
-9.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$164CHF 134
$148CHF 121
10.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$199CHF 162
$174CHF 142
14.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,141CHF 1,747
$1,797CHF 1,467
19.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,528CHF 1,247
$1,343CHF 1,096
13.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,615CHF 2,950
$2,576CHF 2,103
40.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,890CHF 2,358
$2,699CHF 2,202
7.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$18.4KCHF 15.0K
$16.0KCHF 13.1K
15.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$14.5KCHF 11.8K
$12.2KCHF 9,983
18.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Basel
Wallisellen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,336CHF 5,987
$8,719CHF 7,115
-15.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.43
1.72
41.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Basel: September 6, 2026
Last update for Wallisellen: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,141 in Basel and $1,797 in Wallisellen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wallisellen pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $125 in Basel vs $125 in Wallisellen. Groceries flip the comparison at $597 vs $591, with Wallisellen cheaper for home cooking.
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 3% 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 in Wallisellen?
On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Wallisellen. 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 compared to Wallisellen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,141 in Basel versus $1,797 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 in Wallisellen?
Childcare runs $3,026 in Basel versus $1,882 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 in Wallisellen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% 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 in 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 $3,427 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 3% less than in Basel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.