🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,115 in Frauenfeld versus $3,606 in Basel.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,042 in Frauenfeld versus $5,819 in Basel.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,969 in Frauenfeld versus $8,033 in Basel.
🌍Living in Frauenfeld costs roughly 14% less than in Basel, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Frauenfeld133% above, Basel170% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.23CHF 22.02
$31.16CHF 25.19
-12.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$141CHF 114
$154CHF 125
-8.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.16CHF 13.07
$19.41CHF 15.69
-16.74%
Cappuccino
$6.17CHF 4.99
$6.73CHF 5.44
-8.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00CHF 4.04
$5.46CHF 4.42
-8.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36CHF 3.52
$5.21CHF 4.21
-16.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.24CHF 5.04
$9.65CHF 7.80
-35.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63CHF 4.55
$7.31CHF 5.91
-22.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93CHF 1.56
$2.21CHF 1.79
-12.67%
White Bread(500g)
$3.78CHF 3.06
$3.87CHF 3.13
-2.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.15CHF 2.55
$5.19CHF 4.19
-39.31%
Eggs
$7.69CHF 6.22
$7.82CHF 6.33
-1.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.44CHF 22.19
$28.51CHF 23.05
-3.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$29.48CHF 23.84
$36.76CHF 29.72
-19.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$51.7CHF 41.79
$44.22CHF 35.75
16.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47CHF 2.80
$3.91CHF 3.16
-11.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30CHF 1.86
$2.74CHF 2.21
-16.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49CHF 2.01
$4.18CHF 3.38
-40.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39CHF 1.93
$6.99CHF 5.65
-65.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50CHF 2.02
$3.26CHF 2.64
-23.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.50CHF 2.02
$2.98CHF 2.41
-16.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82CHF 1.47
$2.52CHF 2.04
-27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21CHF 0.98
$1.49CHF 1.21
-18.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.22CHF 9.07
$11.83CHF 9.56
-5.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.45CHF 11.69
$13.68CHF 11.06
5.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49CHF 2.01
$2.42CHF 1.96
2.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89CHF 1.53
$3.04CHF 2.46
-37.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.06CHF 3.28
$4.76CHF 3.85
-14.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$98.5CHF 79.7
$105CHF 85.0
-6.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.36CHF 6.76
$7.92CHF 6.41
5.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.28CHF 3.46
$4.36CHF 3.52
-1.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.7CHF 70.9
$87.4CHF 70.7
0.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22CHF 1.79
$2.20CHF 1.78
0.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5KCHF 32.7K
$40.8KCHF 33.0K
-0.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3KCHF 34.2K
$45.1KCHF 36.5K
-6.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249CHF 201
$302CHF 244
-17.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.01CHF 35.58
$54.0CHF 43.66
-18.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6CHF 46.54
$58.9CHF 47.60
-2.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$103CHF 83.4
$90.9CHF 73.5
13.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$41.38CHF 33.46
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.92CHF 16.10
$23.17CHF 18.73
-14.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,851CHF 2,305
$2,533CHF 2,048
12.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$42.3KCHF 34.2K
$33.8KCHF 27.4K
25.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$132CHF 107
$135CHF 110
-2.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1CHF 45.33
$87.6CHF 70.9
-36.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123CHF 99.1
$180CHF 145
-31.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139CHF 112
$230CHF 186
-39.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,492CHF 1,207
$2,103CHF 1,701
-29.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,182CHF 956
$1,511CHF 1,222
-21.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,695CHF 2,179
$3,742CHF 3,025
-27.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,403CHF 1,943
$2,829CHF 2,288
-15.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$15.9KCHF 12.8K
$18.8KCHF 15.2K
-15.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.4KCHF 9,995
$14.6KCHF 11.8K
-15.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,158CHF 4,979
$7,175CHF 5,801
-14.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.35
2.55
-7.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Frauenfeld: July 12, 2026
Last update for Basel: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,492 in Frauenfeld and $2,103 in Basel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Basel pays 17% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $141 in Frauenfeld vs $154 in Basel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $618 vs $692 per month, with Frauenfeld cheaper across the board.
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
Frauenfeld vs Basel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Frauenfeld or Basel?
Frauenfeld wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Basel. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Frauenfeld the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Frauenfeld or in Basel?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Basel. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Frauenfeld compared to Basel?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,492 in Frauenfeld versus $2,103 in Basel. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Frauenfeld and in Basel?
Childcare runs $2,851 in Frauenfeld versus $2,533 in Basel. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Frauenfeld or in Basel?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Basel. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Frauenfeld or in Basel?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Frauenfeld is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Frauenfeld or Basel?
Both work as nomad bases, but Frauenfeld delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,115 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Frauenfeld hard to pass up.
How safe is Frauenfeld compared to Basel?
Safety-wise, Frauenfeld and Basel are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Frauenfeld gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Basel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Frauenfeld vs other spots: cost of living compared