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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,916 per month in Biel vs $3,848 in Lausanne, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,536 per month in Biel vs $5,851 in Lausanne, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,157 per month in Biel vs $7,855 in Lausanne, rent included.

Biel is about 24% cheaper than Lausanne, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Biel and Lausanne sit above the global median – Biel by 113%, Lausanne by 181%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.25 CHF 24.99

$30.46 CHF 24.35

2.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$110 CHF 88.2

$124 CHF 98.8

-10.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.96 CHF 14.36

$19.03 CHF 15.22

-5.62%

Cappuccino

$6.28 CHF 5.02

$6.09 CHF 4.87

3.12%

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

$5.10 CHF 4.08

$5.08 CHF 4.06

0.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 CHF 3.43

$4.29 CHF 3.43

-0.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 CHF 6.24

$10.51 CHF 8.40

-25.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.92 CHF 3.93

$10.05 CHF 8.04

-51.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CHF 1.78

$2.20 CHF 1.76

0.91%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 CHF 3.25

$4.04 CHF 3.23

0.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 CHF 2.74

$3.27 CHF 2.61

4.89%

Eggs

$7.24 CHF 5.79

$6.99 CHF 5.59

3.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.22 CHF 18.56

$25.50 CHF 20.39

-8.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.97 CHF 21.56

$26.82 CHF 21.45

0.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$44.39 CHF 35.49

$44.47 CHF 35.55

-0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 CHF 2.58

$3.61 CHF 2.89

-10.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 CHF 1.76

$2.09 CHF 1.67

5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 CHF 1.97

$2.48 CHF 1.99

-0.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.29 CHF 2.63

$4.79 CHF 3.83

-31.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 CHF 1.20

$1.83 CHF 1.46

-18.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 CHF 1.52

$2.00 CHF 1.60

-5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 CHF 1.77

$2.23 CHF 1.78

-0.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 CHF 0.91

$1.87 CHF 1.50

-39.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.05 CHF 8.83

$11.23 CHF 8.98

-1.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.93 CHF 12.74

$15.89 CHF 12.71

0.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 CHF 0.73

$2.76 CHF 2.21

-67.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 CHF 1.47

$3.30 CHF 2.64

-44.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.90 CHF 3.92

$4.48 CHF 3.58

9.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.0 CHF 76.0

$94.4 CHF 75.5

0.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.00 CHF 6.40

$8.05 CHF 6.44

-0.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.59 CHF 3.67

$4.70 CHF 3.76

-2.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.1 CHF 68.1

$85.5 CHF 68.4

-0.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.22 CHF 1.78

$2.28 CHF 1.82

-2.63%

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

$43.1K CHF 34.5K

$43.8K CHF 35.0K

-1.39%

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

$35.0K CHF 28.0K

$39.4K CHF 31.5K

-11.19%

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

$141 CHF 113

$286 CHF 228

-50.45%

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

$36.50 CHF 29.18

$37.87 CHF 30.28

-3.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CHF 41.33

$52.7 CHF 42.10

-1.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.9 CHF 61.5

$73.9 CHF 59.1

4.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.15 CHF 39.30

Cinema Ticket

$22.20 CHF 17.75

$25.08 CHF 20.05

-11.48%

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

$2,665 CHF 2,131

$2,974 CHF 2,378

-10.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.5K CHF 30.0K

$38.2K CHF 30.6K

-1.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$110 CHF 87.6

$146 CHF 117

-24.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.60 CHF 39.66

$78.6 CHF 62.8

-36.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 CHF 114

0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$222 CHF 177

$221 CHF 177

0.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 CHF 1,034

$2,292 CHF 1,833

-43.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,143 CHF 914

$1,855 CHF 1,483

-38.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,278 CHF 1,822

$4,376 CHF 3,499

-47.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,045 CHF 1,635

$3,352 CHF 2,680

-39.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,821 CHF 7,853

$18.9K CHF 15.1K

-47.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,971 CHF 6,373

$14.2K CHF 11.4K

-43.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,625 CHF 4,498

$6,699 CHF 5,356

-16.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.68

1.95

-13.85%

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

Last update for Biel: August 17, 2026

Last update for Lausanne: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,293 in Biel versus $2,292 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 19% higher in Lausanne, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $110 in Biel versus $124 in Lausanne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $570 vs $605 – 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 Lausanne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lausanne is pricier by about 32%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,374 per month in Biel and $5,771 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 1% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,665 per month in Biel and $2,974 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 $2,916 in Biel and $3,848 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.