Cost of Living Comparison Between Bern and Basel Cost of Living Comparison Between Bern and Basel

🙂 Solo nomad: Bern is 7.5% cheaper than Basel without rent, and 6.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bern is 11.8% cheaper than Basel without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bern
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.32 CHF 23.03
$31.25 CHF 25.41
-9.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 CHF 89.3
$156 CHF 127
-29.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$17.37 CHF 14.12
$19.97 CHF 16.24
-13.02%
Cappuccino
$5.8 CHF 4.72
$6.94 CHF 5.65
-16.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78 CHF 3.89
$5.53 CHF 4.49
-13.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77 CHF 3.88
$4.98 CHF 4.05
-4.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.08 CHF 6.57
$10.15 CHF 8.26
-20.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.27 CHF 5.09
$7.31 CHF 5.94
-14.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bern
Basel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 CHF 1.82
$2.27 CHF 1.84
-1.32%
White Bread (500g)
$3.29 CHF 2.68
$3.74 CHF 3.04
-12.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.08 CHF 3.32
$5.06 CHF 4.12
-19.37%
Eggs
$6.93 CHF 5.64
$7.78 CHF 6.32
-10.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$28.01 CHF 22.77
$28.37 CHF 23.06
-1.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$35.98 CHF 29.26
$37 CHF 30.08
-2.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.51 CHF 33.75
$43.73 CHF 35.55
-5.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.49 CHF 2.84
$3.86 CHF 3.14
-9.59%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 CHF 1.73
$2.7 CHF 2.2
-21.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.78 CHF 2.26
$4.05 CHF 3.3
-31.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.02 CHF 5.7
$6.86 CHF 5.58
2.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 CHF 1.81
$3.13 CHF 2.54
-28.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 CHF 1.8
$2.87 CHF 2.33
-22.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 CHF 2.06
$2.66 CHF 2.16
-4.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 CHF 0.9
$1.48 CHF 1.21
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.5 CHF 9.35
$11.76 CHF 9.56
-2.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.65 CHF 10.29
$15.36 CHF 12.49
-17.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 CHF 1.52
$2.33 CHF 1.9
-19.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 CHF 1.83
$3.01 CHF 2.45
-24.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Bern
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.59 CHF 2.92
$4.8 CHF 3.91
-25.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96 CHF 78
$105 CHF 85.4
-8.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 CHF 6.53
$7.9 CHF 6.42
1.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.32 CHF 3.52
$4.12 CHF 3.35
4.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$92.7 CHF 75.4
$87.7 CHF 71.3
5.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.2 CHF 1.79
$2.23 CHF 1.81
-1.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.2K CHF 32.7K
$40.7K CHF 33.1K
-1.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.5K CHF 46.7K
$45.6K CHF 37.1K
25.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bern
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$377 CHF 307
$309 CHF 251
22.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59 CHF 47.97
$54.1 CHF 44
9.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.1 CHF 47.2
$59.6 CHF 48.5
-2.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bern
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.8 CHF 67.4
$88.4 CHF 71.9
-6.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.33 CHF 38.49
$42.41 CHF 34.49
11.60%
Cinema Ticket
$24.24 CHF 19.71
$23.02 CHF 18.71
5.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bern
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,311 CHF 2,692
$2,539 CHF 2,064
30.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.8K CHF 32.4K
$34.5K CHF 28K
15.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bern
Basel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$152 CHF 124
$136 CHF 111
11.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67 CHF 54.5
$87.7 CHF 71.3
-23.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$173 CHF 141
$178 CHF 145
-2.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$189 CHF 153
$228 CHF 185
-17.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bern
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,884 CHF 1,532
$2,108 CHF 1,714
-10.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,282 CHF 1,042
$1,500 CHF 1,220
-14.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,314 CHF 2,694
$3,798 CHF 3,088
-12.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,401 CHF 1,952
$2,881 CHF 2,343
-16.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$22.6K CHF 18.4K
$21K CHF 17.1K
7.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$17.7K CHF 14.4K
$17K CHF 13.8K
4.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bern
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,599 CHF 6,178
$8,088 CHF 6,576
-6.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.52
2.55
-1.18%

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

Last update for Bern: October 27, 2025

Last update for Basel: October 29, 2025

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