Cost of Living Comparison Between Biel and Geneva Cost of Living Comparison Between Biel and Geneva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,095 per month in Biel vs $4,131 in Geneva, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,727 per month in Biel vs $6,472 in Geneva, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,358 per month in Biel vs $8,814 in Geneva, rent included.

Biel is about 25% cheaper than Geneva, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Biel and Geneva sit above the global median – Biel by 133%, Geneva by 210%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.66 CHF 20.06

$36.23 CHF 29.47

-31.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$113 CHF 91.6

$147 CHF 119

-23.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.23 CHF 13.20

$18.77 CHF 15.26

-13.53%

Cappuccino

$6.19 CHF 5.03

$6.00 CHF 4.88

3.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.18 CHF 4.21

$5.44 CHF 4.42

-4.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 CHF 3.94

$4.83 CHF 3.93

0.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.53 CHF 6.12

$10.03 CHF 8.16

-24.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 CHF 5.58

$8.48 CHF 6.90

-19.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.78

$2.21 CHF 1.80

-0.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 CHF 3.03

$3.97 CHF 3.23

-6.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 CHF 3.48

$4.30 CHF 3.50

-0.47%

Eggs

$7.30 CHF 5.93

$7.60 CHF 6.18

-3.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.19 CHF 24.56

$26.80 CHF 21.80

12.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.60 CHF 28.95

$32.90 CHF 26.76

8.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$51.2 CHF 41.66

$53.1 CHF 43.21

-3.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 CHF 2.74

$3.58 CHF 2.92

-5.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 CHF 1.80

$2.51 CHF 2.04

-11.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 CHF 2.45

$2.97 CHF 2.42

1.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CHF 3.46

$6.26 CHF 5.09

-32.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 CHF 1.96

$2.55 CHF 2.07

-5.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 CHF 2.04

$2.32 CHF 1.89

8.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.68 CHF 2.18

$2.61 CHF 2.12

2.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CHF 0.73

$1.33 CHF 1.08

-33.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.14 CHF 9.06

$10.95 CHF 8.90

1.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 CHF 12.43

$12.42 CHF 10.10

23.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 CHF 1.90

$3.35 CHF 2.72

-30.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 CHF 2.71

$3.78 CHF 3.08

-11.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.34 CHF 3.53

$3.60 CHF 2.93

20.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 CHF 88.5

$85.0 CHF 69.1

28.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.20 CHF 9.92

$7.37 CHF 5.99

65.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.10 CHF 3.34

$3.51 CHF 2.86

16.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$82.9 CHF 67.4

$63.9 CHF 52.0

29.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.82

$2.21 CHF 1.79

1.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.9K CHF 25.2K

$40.1K CHF 32.7K

-22.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.2K CHF 22.9K

$49.5K CHF 40.3K

-43.18%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$250 CHF 203

$259 CHF 211

-3.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.83 CHF 29.95

$47.91 CHF 38.97

-23.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 CHF 46.49

$64.2 CHF 52.2

-10.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$117 CHF 94.9

$80.9 CHF 65.8

44.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$74.0 CHF 60.2

$36.86 CHF 29.98

100.79%

Cinema Ticket

$22.35 CHF 18.18

$24.51 CHF 19.93

-8.81%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,900 CHF 2,359

$3,517 CHF 2,860

-17.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.9K CHF 34.9K

$33.7K CHF 27.4K

27.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$136 CHF 111

$139 CHF 113

-1.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.65 CHF 37.94

$79.6 CHF 64.8

-41.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 CHF 107

$166 CHF 135

-20.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 CHF 129

$209 CHF 170

-24.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 CHF 1,052

$2,353 CHF 1,914

-45.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,162 CHF 945

$2,079 CHF 1,691

-44.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,272 CHF 1,848

$4,650 CHF 3,782

-51.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,827 CHF 1,486

$3,813 CHF 3,101

-52.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,886 CHF 8,041

$22.7K CHF 18.5K

-56.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,956 CHF 6,471

$15.7K CHF 12.8K

-49.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,723 CHF 6,282

$7,297 CHF 5,935

5.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.88

2.46

-23.58%

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

Last update for Biel: July 26, 2026

Last update for Geneva: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,294 in Biel versus $2,353 in Geneva. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Biel, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $113 in Biel versus $147 in Geneva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $674 vs $678 – making Biel the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Biel vs Geneva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,643 per month in Biel and $6,197 in Geneva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Biel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 28% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,900 per month in Biel and $3,517 in Geneva. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,095 in Biel and $4,131 in Geneva. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Biel – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Biel. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Geneva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.