Cost of Living Comparison Between Frauenfeld and Basel Cost of Living Comparison Between Frauenfeld and Basel

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,186 in Frauenfeld versus $3,566 in Basel.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,101 in Frauenfeld versus $5,581 in Basel.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,016 in Frauenfeld versus $7,595 in Basel.

Living in Frauenfeld costs roughly 11% less than in Basel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Frauenfeld 132% above, Basel 160% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.45 CHF 25.57
$29.61 CHF 24.07
6.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$126 CHF 102
$128 CHF 104
-1.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.10 CHF 16.34
$18.47 CHF 15.01
8.83%
Cappuccino
$6.11 CHF 4.97
$6.76 CHF 5.50
-9.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 CHF 4.51
$6.33 CHF 5.14
-12.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05 CHF 4.10
$6.15 CHF 5.00
-17.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.73 CHF 7.10
$8.91 CHF 7.24
-2.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 CHF 5.60
$9.93 CHF 8.07
-30.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CHF 1.88
$2.34 CHF 1.90
-1.28%
White Bread (500g)
$4.05 CHF 3.29
$3.22 CHF 2.61
25.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.42 CHF 3.59
$3.36 CHF 2.73
31.55%
Eggs
$7.85 CHF 6.38
$8.03 CHF 6.53
-2.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.83 CHF 22.62
$26.94 CHF 21.90
3.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$29.91 CHF 24.31
$27.83 CHF 22.63
7.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$43.12 CHF 35.06
$41.82 CHF 34.00
3.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.79 CHF 3.08
$3.60 CHF 2.93
5.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.28 CHF 1.85
$2.35 CHF 1.91
-2.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 CHF 2.36
$3.12 CHF 2.54
-6.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.49 CHF 4.46
$4.84 CHF 3.93
13.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.44 CHF 1.98
$1.73 CHF 1.40
41.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.50 CHF 2.04
$2.07 CHF 1.68
20.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.40 CHF 1.95
$2.33 CHF 1.89
3.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 CHF 1.00
$1.63 CHF 1.33
-23.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.34 CHF 9.22
$11.39 CHF 9.26
-0.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 CHF 12.34
$12.41 CHF 10.09
22.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 CHF 2.39
$2.62 CHF 2.13
12.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 CHF 3.23
$3.21 CHF 2.61
23.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.51 CHF 3.66
$4.60 CHF 3.74
-1.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$100 CHF 81.5
$108 CHF 88.2
-7.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.56 CHF 4.52
$8.16 CHF 6.63
-31.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.51 CHF 2.85
$4.67 CHF 3.80
-24.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.7 CHF 50.2
$85.9 CHF 69.8
-28.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 CHF 1.88
$2.27 CHF 1.85
1.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6K CHF 35.5K
$43.8K CHF 35.6K
-0.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K CHF 32.3K
$39.8K CHF 32.4K
-0.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 CHF 189
$304 CHF 247
-23.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.80 CHF 33.17
$54.2 CHF 44.05
-24.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 CHF 51.9
$64.7 CHF 52.6
-1.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$102 CHF 83.0
$83.3 CHF 67.7
22.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.27 CHF 38.43
$58.5 CHF 47.56
-19.20%
Cinema Ticket
$24.20 CHF 19.67
$23.78 CHF 19.34
1.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,861 CHF 1,513
$3,055 CHF 2,484
-39.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.7K CHF 27.4K
$32.6K CHF 26.5K
3.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$168 CHF 137
$147 CHF 120
14.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 CHF 46.41
$81.7 CHF 66.4
-30.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$195 CHF 159
$166 CHF 135
17.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 CHF 115
$206 CHF 167
-31.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,525 CHF 1,240
$2,095 CHF 1,703
-27.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 CHF 1,003
$1,529 CHF 1,243
-19.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,690 CHF 2,187
$3,547 CHF 2,884
-24.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,474 CHF 2,011
$2,865 CHF 2,329
-13.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.7K CHF 13.6K
$18.2K CHF 14.8K
-8.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$12.3K CHF 9,967
$14.8K CHF 12.1K
-17.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,365 CHF 5,175
$7,405 CHF 6,020
-14.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.35
2.43
-3.29%

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

Last update for Frauenfeld: August 29, 2026

Last update for Basel: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,525 in Frauenfeld and $2,095 in Basel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basel pays 16% 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: $126 in Frauenfeld vs $128 in Basel. Groceries flip the comparison at $637 vs $598, with Basel cheaper for home cooking.

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 12% 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 16% 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: $1,525 in Frauenfeld versus $2,095 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 $1,861 in Frauenfeld versus $3,055 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?
Shoppers in Basel pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
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 $3,186 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 12% less than in Basel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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