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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,862 per month in Biel vs $3,790 in Lausanne, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,510 per month in Biel vs $5,672 in Lausanne, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,157 per month in Biel vs $7,554 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 114%, Lausanne by 183%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.59 CHF 24.61

$29.72 CHF 24.71

-0.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$107 CHF 88.6

$117 CHF 97.1

-8.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.30 CHF 15.22

$17.81 CHF 14.81

2.75%

Cappuccino

$6.17 CHF 5.13

$6.03 CHF 5.01

2.32%

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

$5.01 CHF 4.16

$4.99 CHF 4.15

0.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 CHF 3.43

$4.10 CHF 3.41

0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 CHF 6.46

$10.12 CHF 8.42

-23.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 CHF 4.07

$9.39 CHF 7.81

-47.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 CHF 1.79

$2.24 CHF 1.86

-4.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.99 CHF 3.31

$3.96 CHF 3.30

0.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.29 CHF 2.74

$3.33 CHF 2.77

-1.20%

Eggs

$7.08 CHF 5.89

$7.05 CHF 5.86

0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.61 CHF 18.80

$24.14 CHF 20.07

-6.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.65 CHF 22.99

$27.93 CHF 23.23

-1.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$38.52 CHF 32.03

$39.52 CHF 32.87

-2.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 CHF 2.58

$3.47 CHF 2.89

-10.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 CHF 1.69

$2.14 CHF 1.78

-5.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 2.07

$2.56 CHF 2.13

-2.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.21 CHF 2.67

$4.65 CHF 3.87

-30.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 CHF 1.18

$1.78 CHF 1.48

-20.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 CHF 1.46

$1.97 CHF 1.64

-10.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 CHF 1.66

$1.97 CHF 1.64

1.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 CHF 0.88

$1.73 CHF 1.44

-38.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.63 CHF 8.84

$10.68 CHF 8.88

-0.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 CHF 12.32

$15.21 CHF 12.65

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 CHF 0.76

$2.70 CHF 2.24

-65.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CHF 1.48

$3.18 CHF 2.65

-43.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.77 CHF 3.97

$4.45 CHF 3.70

7.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.5 CHF 78.6

$94.3 CHF 78.4

0.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 CHF 6.54

$7.89 CHF 6.56

-0.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.64 CHF 3.86

$4.50 CHF 3.75

3.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$84.3 CHF 70.1

$83.4 CHF 69.3

1.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.83

$2.30 CHF 1.91

-3.91%

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

$41.9K CHF 34.8K

$43.5K CHF 36.2K

-3.75%

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

$34.0K CHF 28.3K

$39.6K CHF 32.9K

-13.98%

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

$137 CHF 114

$288 CHF 240

-52.58%

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

$35.28 CHF 29.34

$37.56 CHF 31.23

-6.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.0 CHF 43.21

$52.2 CHF 43.43

-0.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.8 CHF 62.2

$72.2 CHF 60.1

3.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$48.87 CHF 40.64

Cinema Ticket

$22.05 CHF 18.34

$23.88 CHF 19.86

-7.66%

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

$2,615 CHF 2,174

$2,913 CHF 2,422

-10.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.3K CHF 31.0K

$36.7K CHF 30.5K

1.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 CHF 88.2

$142 CHF 118

-25.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 CHF 33.30

$77.0 CHF 64.0

-47.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 CHF 114

$142 CHF 118

-3.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$213 CHF 177

$212 CHF 176

0.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,239 CHF 1,030

$2,280 CHF 1,896

-45.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,126 CHF 936

$1,814 CHF 1,508

-37.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,251 CHF 1,872

$4,204 CHF 3,496

-46.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,007 CHF 1,669

$3,202 CHF 2,663

-37.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,747 CHF 8,106

$18.2K CHF 15.2K

-46.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,907 CHF 6,575

$13.7K CHF 11.4K

-42.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,538 CHF 4,605

$6,565 CHF 5,460

-15.65%

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: October 4, 2026

Last update for Lausanne: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,239 in Biel versus $2,280 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 $107 in Biel versus $117 in Lausanne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $544 vs $586 – 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 $4,293 per month in Biel and $5,684 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 0% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,615 per month in Biel and $2,913 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 $2,862 in Biel and $3,790 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.