Cost of Living Comparison Between Biel and Lausanne Cost of Living Comparison Between Biel and Lausanne

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,096 per month in Biel vs $3,498 in Lausanne, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,763 per month in Biel vs $5,732 in Lausanne, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,429 per month in Biel vs $7,966 in Lausanne, rent included.

Biel is about 11% cheaper than Lausanne, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Biel and Lausanne sit above the global median – Biel by 131%, Lausanne by 161%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.71 CHF 19.54

$33.00 CHF 26.10

-25.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$113 CHF 89.3

$147 CHF 116

-23.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.03 CHF 12.68

$19.28 CHF 15.25

-16.86%

Cappuccino

$6.33 CHF 5.01

$6.09 CHF 4.82

3.94%

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

$5.32 CHF 4.21

$5.33 CHF 4.21

-0.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 CHF 4.00

$4.80 CHF 3.80

5.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.79 CHF 6.16

$10.02 CHF 7.93

-22.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.87 CHF 5.43

$8.55 CHF 6.76

-19.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CHF 1.78

$2.27 CHF 1.80

-0.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 CHF 2.94

$4.10 CHF 3.25

-9.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 CHF 3.38

$4.46 CHF 3.53

-4.04%

Eggs

$7.51 CHF 5.94

$7.15 CHF 5.66

5.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.27 CHF 23.95

$26.38 CHF 20.86

14.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.98 CHF 28.46

$28.91 CHF 22.87

24.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.9 CHF 40.22

$52.6 CHF 41.57

-3.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 CHF 2.59

$3.66 CHF 2.89

-10.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 CHF 1.83

$2.15 CHF 1.70

7.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 CHF 2.36

$2.94 CHF 2.32

1.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CHF 3.44

$6.57 CHF 5.19

-33.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 1.97

$2.44 CHF 1.93

2.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 CHF 1.89

$2.34 CHF 1.85

2.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 CHF 2.11

$2.63 CHF 2.08

1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CHF 0.70

$1.40 CHF 1.11

-36.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.12 CHF 8.80

$11.02 CHF 8.72

0.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 CHF 9.99

$16.17 CHF 12.79

-21.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 CHF 1.90

$2.01 CHF 1.59

19.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 CHF 2.63

$3.23 CHF 2.55

2.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.47 CHF 3.53

$4.86 CHF 3.84

-8.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 CHF 86.3

$96.0 CHF 75.9

13.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.54 CHF 9.92

$7.86 CHF 6.22

59.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.05 CHF 3.20

$3.32 CHF 2.62

21.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$82.4 CHF 65.2

$65.6 CHF 51.9

25.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.15 CHF 1.70

$2.23 CHF 1.76

-3.59%

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

$31.3K CHF 24.8K

$39.9K CHF 31.5K

-21.41%

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

$28.5K CHF 22.5K

$40.8K CHF 32.3K

-30.20%

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

$244 CHF 193

$324 CHF 256

-24.58%

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

$36.50 CHF 28.87

$49.73 CHF 39.34

-26.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.6 CHF 43.97

$58.4 CHF 46.22

-4.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$114 CHF 90.3

$77.4 CHF 61.3

47.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$73.2 CHF 57.9

$49.11 CHF 38.85

48.95%

Cinema Ticket

$21.76 CHF 17.21

$26.10 CHF 20.64

-16.63%

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

$2,865 CHF 2,266

$2,823 CHF 2,233

1.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.2K CHF 33.4K

$34.6K CHF 27.4K

21.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 CHF 111

$108 CHF 85.5

30.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.49 CHF 35.98

$70.2 CHF 55.5

-35.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 CHF 104

$153 CHF 121

-13.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 CHF 126

$187 CHF 148

-14.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 CHF 1,027

$1,884 CHF 1,490

-31.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,126 CHF 890

$1,465 CHF 1,158

-23.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 CHF 1,798

$3,584 CHF 2,835

-36.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,871 CHF 1,480

$2,901 CHF 2,295

-35.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,986 CHF 7,899

$20.0K CHF 15.8K

-49.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,438 CHF 6,674

$15.0K CHF 11.8K

-43.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,974 CHF 6,307

$7,840 CHF 6,202

1.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.88

2.5

-24.80%

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

Last update for Biel: April 25, 2026

Last update for Lausanne: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,298 in Biel versus $1,884 in Lausanne. 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 2% 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 Lausanne. Groceries tell a different story – $672 in Biel vs $656 in Lausanne – so Lausanne wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Lausanne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lausanne is pricier by about 13%, 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 $4,644 per month in Biel and $5,246 in Lausanne. 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 14% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,865 per month in Biel and $2,823 in Lausanne. 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 $3,096 in Biel and $3,498 in Lausanne. 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, Lausanne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.