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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,131 per month in Biel vs $4,254 in Zurich, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,741 per month in Biel vs $6,409 in Zurich, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,352 per month in Biel vs $8,563 in Zurich, rent included.

Biel is about 26% cheaper than Zurich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Biel and Zurich sit above the global median – Biel by 134%, Zurich by 217%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.74 CHF 19.50

$31.04 CHF 24.47

-20.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$113 CHF 88.8

$149 CHF 118

-24.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.92 CHF 12.55

$20.83 CHF 16.42

-23.57%

Cappuccino

$6.14 CHF 4.84

$6.72 CHF 5.29

-8.63%

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

$5.23 CHF 4.13

$5.90 CHF 4.65

-11.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 CHF 3.83

$5.35 CHF 4.22

-9.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.77 CHF 6.13

$9.85 CHF 7.76

-21.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.67 CHF 5.26

$8.82 CHF 6.95

-24.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.77

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-0.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 CHF 2.93

$3.29 CHF 2.60

13.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 CHF 3.37

$4.12 CHF 3.25

3.64%

Eggs

$7.51 CHF 5.92

$7.19 CHF 5.67

4.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.22 CHF 23.83

$29.88 CHF 23.56

1.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$34.81 CHF 27.44

$33.59 CHF 26.48

3.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$50.9 CHF 40.09

$49.65 CHF 39.14

2.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 CHF 2.68

$4.04 CHF 3.18

-15.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 CHF 1.78

$2.90 CHF 2.29

-22.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 CHF 2.33

$3.05 CHF 2.40

-2.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CHF 3.33

$5.24 CHF 4.13

-19.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CHF 1.94

$2.85 CHF 2.25

-13.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.41 CHF 1.90

$2.38 CHF 1.88

1.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CHF 2.02

$2.50 CHF 1.97

2.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 CHF 0.73

$1.70 CHF 1.34

-45.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.07 CHF 8.73

$10.96 CHF 8.64

1.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.13 CHF 11.14

$15.06 CHF 11.87

-6.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 CHF 1.81

$2.62 CHF 2.07

-12.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 CHF 2.62

$3.23 CHF 2.55

3.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.55 CHF 3.59

$4.82 CHF 3.80

-5.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$111 CHF 87.8

$106 CHF 83.7

4.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.28 CHF 9.68

$7.55 CHF 5.95

62.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.27 CHF 3.37

$4.15 CHF 3.27

2.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$82.8 CHF 65.2

$89.1 CHF 70.2

-7.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.73

$2.29 CHF 1.81

-4.37%

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

$31.4K CHF 24.8K

$41.1K CHF 32.4K

-23.59%

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

$28.1K CHF 22.2K

$39.3K CHF 31.0K

-28.58%

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

$246 CHF 194

$259 CHF 204

-4.95%

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

$36.38 CHF 28.68

$35.51 CHF 28.00

2.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.1 CHF 44.21

$58.5 CHF 46.08

-4.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$116 CHF 91.6

$88.8 CHF 70.0

30.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$73.9 CHF 58.3

$48.84 CHF 38.50

51.27%

Cinema Ticket

$21.90 CHF 17.27

$25.07 CHF 19.77

-12.64%

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

$2,879 CHF 2,269

$3,470 CHF 2,736

-17.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.3K CHF 34.2K

$39.0K CHF 30.8K

11.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 CHF 110

$137 CHF 108

1.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 CHF 36.22

$62.3 CHF 49.13

-26.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 CHF 102

$148 CHF 117

-12.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 CHF 127

$202 CHF 159

-20.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 CHF 1,020

$2,686 CHF 2,118

-51.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,140 CHF 899

$2,205 CHF 1,738

-48.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,300 CHF 1,813

$4,902 CHF 3,865

-53.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,858 CHF 1,465

$3,702 CHF 2,919

-49.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K CHF 8,124

$26.1K CHF 20.6K

-60.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,227 CHF 6,487

$16.5K CHF 13.0K

-50.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,875 CHF 6,208

$8,722 CHF 6,876

-9.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.88

2.09

-10.05%

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

Last update for Biel: June 1, 2026

Last update for Zurich: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,294 in Biel versus $2,686 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 11% 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 $113 in Biel versus $149 in Zurich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $667 vs $677 – 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 36%, 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 $4,696 per month in Biel and $6,382 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 5% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,879 per month in Biel and $3,470 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 $3,131 in Biel and $4,254 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.