Cost of Living Comparison Between Biel and Zurich Cost of Living Comparison Between Biel and Zurich

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,936 per month in Biel vs $4,731 in Zurich, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,535 per month in Biel vs $7,187 in Zurich, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,133 per month in Biel vs $9,642 in Zurich, rent included.

Biel is about 38% cheaper than Zurich, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Biel and Zurich sit above the global median – Biel by 114%, Zurich by 244%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.43 CHF 25.55

$37.35 CHF 30.37

-15.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$109 CHF 88.9

$149 CHF 121

-26.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.03 CHF 14.66

$18.46 CHF 15.01

-2.33%

Cappuccino

$6.06 CHF 4.93

$7.03 CHF 5.72

-13.80%

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

$5.09 CHF 4.14

$5.88 CHF 4.78

-13.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.14 CHF 3.37

$5.40 CHF 4.39

-23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.11 CHF 6.59

$9.98 CHF 8.11

-18.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 CHF 3.92

$8.85 CHF 7.19

-45.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 CHF 1.73

$2.16 CHF 1.75

-1.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.10 CHF 3.33

$4.06 CHF 3.30

0.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.39 CHF 2.76

$3.98 CHF 3.23

-14.82%

Eggs

$7.17 CHF 5.83

$8.69 CHF 7.06

-17.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.86 CHF 18.59

$27.65 CHF 22.48

-17.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$29.03 CHF 23.60

$27.77 CHF 22.58

4.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.06 CHF 33.38

$61.1 CHF 49.70

-32.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 CHF 2.55

$4.08 CHF 3.32

-23.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 CHF 1.77

$2.92 CHF 2.38

-25.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 CHF 2.11

$3.59 CHF 2.92

-27.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.28 CHF 2.67

$4.94 CHF 4.02

-33.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 CHF 1.22

$2.62 CHF 2.13

-42.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 CHF 1.55

$2.30 CHF 1.87

-16.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 CHF 1.70

$2.60 CHF 2.11

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 CHF 0.88

$1.29 CHF 1.05

-16.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.18 CHF 9.09

$10.92 CHF 8.88

2.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.54 CHF 12.63

$13.57 CHF 11.04

14.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 CHF 0.73

$2.89 CHF 2.35

-68.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 CHF 1.54

$3.14 CHF 2.55

-39.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.84 CHF 3.93

$5.57 CHF 4.53

-13.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.4 CHF 78.4

$107 CHF 87.1

-9.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 CHF 6.36

$8.13 CHF 6.61

-3.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.61 CHF 3.75

$4.82 CHF 3.92

-4.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.2 CHF 69.3

$92.7 CHF 75.3

-8.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.78

$2.32 CHF 1.89

-5.60%

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

$44.3K CHF 36.0K

$40.2K CHF 32.7K

9.99%

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

$35.9K CHF 29.2K

$39.8K CHF 32.4K

-9.80%

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

$140 CHF 114

$290 CHF 235

-51.68%

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

$36.96 CHF 30.05

$39.27 CHF 31.93

-5.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.2 CHF 40.82

$57.5 CHF 46.78

-12.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.8 CHF 62.4

$91.0 CHF 74.0

-15.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 CHF 51.7

Cinema Ticket

$22.52 CHF 18.31

$25.00 CHF 20.33

-9.92%

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

$2,719 CHF 2,211

$3,759 CHF 3,056

-27.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.1K CHF 31.0K

$42.8K CHF 34.8K

-10.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$112 CHF 91.0

$143 CHF 116

-21.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.77 CHF 40.47

$60.5 CHF 49.18

-17.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$144 CHF 117

$167 CHF 136

-13.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$225 CHF 183

$263 CHF 214

-14.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,297 CHF 1,055

$3,126 CHF 2,542

-58.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,165 CHF 947

$2,503 CHF 2,035

-53.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,339 CHF 1,902

$6,322 CHF 5,140

-63.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,112 CHF 1,717

$4,166 CHF 3,387

-49.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,764 CHF 7,939

$28.2K CHF 23.0K

-65.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,084 CHF 6,572

$16.4K CHF 13.3K

-50.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,764 CHF 4,686

$8,301 CHF 6,749

-30.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.68

2.07

-18.84%

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

Last update for Biel: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zurich: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,297 in Biel versus $3,126 in Zurich. 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 44% higher in Zurich, 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 $109 in Biel versus $149 in Zurich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $566 vs $681 – 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 Zurich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Zurich is pricier by about 61%, 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 $4,404 per month in Biel and $7,096 in Zurich. 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 11% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,719 per month in Biel and $3,759 in Zurich. 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 $2,936 in Biel and $4,731 in Zurich. 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, Zurich makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.