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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,120 per month in Biel vs $3,531 in Lausanne, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Biel vs $5,650 in Lausanne, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,330 per month in Biel vs $7,768 in Lausanne, rent included.

Biel is about 12% cheaper than Lausanne, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Biel and Lausanne sit above the global median – Biel by 134%, Lausanne by 165%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.31 CHF 19.56

$32.34 CHF 26.03

-24.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$109 CHF 87.9

$149 CHF 120

-26.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.01 CHF 12.89

$19.18 CHF 15.44

-16.53%

Cappuccino

$6.15 CHF 4.95

$6.07 CHF 4.89

1.32%

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

$5.31 CHF 4.27

$5.42 CHF 4.36

-2.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 CHF 3.92

$4.70 CHF 3.78

3.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.65 CHF 6.15

$9.64 CHF 7.76

-20.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 CHF 5.54

$8.88 CHF 7.15

-22.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 CHF 1.76

$2.23 CHF 1.80

-2.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.77 CHF 3.04

$4.20 CHF 3.38

-10.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.26 CHF 3.43

$4.38 CHF 3.52

-2.74%

Eggs

$7.54 CHF 6.07

$7.10 CHF 5.71

6.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.72 CHF 24.73

$26.79 CHF 21.56

14.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$34.92 CHF 28.11

$28.49 CHF 22.93

22.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$51.7 CHF 41.62

$53.4 CHF 42.98

-3.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 CHF 2.70

$3.78 CHF 3.04

-11.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 CHF 1.80

$2.09 CHF 1.68

7.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 CHF 2.42

$2.84 CHF 2.29

5.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 CHF 3.31

$6.68 CHF 5.38

-38.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 CHF 2.00

$2.46 CHF 1.98

0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 2.00

$2.40 CHF 1.93

3.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CHF 2.10

$2.60 CHF 2.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 CHF 0.72

$1.47 CHF 1.19

-38.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.11 CHF 8.94

$10.94 CHF 8.81

1.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 CHF 10.92

$16.48 CHF 13.26

-17.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 CHF 1.85

$2.12 CHF 1.70

8.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 CHF 2.68

$3.24 CHF 2.61

2.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.42 CHF 3.55

$4.88 CHF 3.93

-9.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 CHF 88.6

$94.3 CHF 75.9

16.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.54 CHF 10.09

$7.69 CHF 6.19

63.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.23 CHF 3.41

$3.37 CHF 2.71

25.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$84.5 CHF 68.0

$67.5 CHF 54.3

25.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.14 CHF 1.72

$2.23 CHF 1.79

-4.04%

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

$31.1K CHF 25.0K

$40.8K CHF 32.8K

-23.79%

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

$28.6K CHF 23.0K

$40.8K CHF 32.9K

-30.08%

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

$245 CHF 197

$321 CHF 259

-23.75%

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

$35.79 CHF 28.81

$50.5 CHF 40.63

-29.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.0 CHF 45.10

$59.7 CHF 48.05

-6.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$113 CHF 91.3

$76.6 CHF 61.7

48.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$73.6 CHF 59.2

$47.51 CHF 38.24

54.85%

Cinema Ticket

$22.57 CHF 18.17

$26.91 CHF 21.66

-16.13%

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

$2,933 CHF 2,361

$2,769 CHF 2,229

5.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.6K CHF 34.3K

$34.0K CHF 27.4K

25.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 CHF 112

$109 CHF 88.0

26.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.95 CHF 37.79

$70.0 CHF 56.4

-32.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 CHF 106

$153 CHF 123

-13.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 CHF 129

$182 CHF 146

-12.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,289 CHF 1,037

$1,885 CHF 1,517

-31.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,155 CHF 929

$1,455 CHF 1,171

-20.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,303 CHF 1,853

$3,542 CHF 2,851

-34.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,821 CHF 1,466

$2,920 CHF 2,350

-37.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K CHF 8,191

$19.1K CHF 15.4K

-46.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,232 CHF 6,626

$14.6K CHF 11.7K

-43.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,807 CHF 6,283

$7,573 CHF 6,095

3.09%

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for Lausanne: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,289 in Biel versus $1,885 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 3% 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 $109 in Biel versus $149 in Lausanne. Groceries tell a different story – $670 in Biel vs $660 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 $4,679 per month in Biel and $5,296 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 17% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,933 per month in Biel and $2,769 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 $3,120 in Biel and $3,531 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.