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: $3,115 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: Frauenfeld 133% above, Basel 170% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.23 CHF 22.02
$31.16 CHF 25.19
-12.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$141 CHF 114
$154 CHF 125
-8.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.16 CHF 13.07
$19.41 CHF 15.69
-16.74%
Cappuccino
$6.17 CHF 4.99
$6.73 CHF 5.44
-8.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00 CHF 4.04
$5.46 CHF 4.42
-8.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 CHF 3.52
$5.21 CHF 4.21
-16.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.24 CHF 5.04
$9.65 CHF 7.80
-35.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63 CHF 4.55
$7.31 CHF 5.91
-22.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 CHF 1.56
$2.21 CHF 1.79
-12.67%
White Bread (500g)
$3.78 CHF 3.06
$3.87 CHF 3.13
-2.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.15 CHF 2.55
$5.19 CHF 4.19
-39.31%
Eggs
$7.69 CHF 6.22
$7.82 CHF 6.33
-1.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.44 CHF 22.19
$28.51 CHF 23.05
-3.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$29.48 CHF 23.84
$36.76 CHF 29.72
-19.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$51.7 CHF 41.79
$44.22 CHF 35.75
16.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.47 CHF 2.80
$3.91 CHF 3.16
-11.25%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 CHF 1.86
$2.74 CHF 2.21
-16.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 CHF 2.01
$4.18 CHF 3.38
-40.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.39 CHF 1.93
$6.99 CHF 5.65
-65.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 CHF 2.02
$3.26 CHF 2.64
-23.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.50 CHF 2.02
$2.98 CHF 2.41
-16.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 CHF 1.47
$2.52 CHF 2.04
-27.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CHF 0.98
$1.49 CHF 1.21
-18.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.22 CHF 9.07
$11.83 CHF 9.56
-5.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.45 CHF 11.69
$13.68 CHF 11.06
5.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 CHF 2.01
$2.42 CHF 1.96
2.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 CHF 1.53
$3.04 CHF 2.46
-37.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.06 CHF 3.28
$4.76 CHF 3.85
-14.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.5 CHF 79.7
$105 CHF 85.0
-6.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.36 CHF 6.76
$7.92 CHF 6.41
5.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.28 CHF 3.46
$4.36 CHF 3.52
-1.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$87.7 CHF 70.9
$87.4 CHF 70.7
0.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.22 CHF 1.79
$2.20 CHF 1.78
0.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K CHF 32.7K
$40.8K CHF 33.0K
-0.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K CHF 34.2K
$45.1K CHF 36.5K
-6.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$249 CHF 201
$302 CHF 244
-17.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.01 CHF 35.58
$54.0 CHF 43.66
-18.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6 CHF 46.54
$58.9 CHF 47.60
-2.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$103 CHF 83.4
$90.9 CHF 73.5
13.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$41.38 CHF 33.46
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.92 CHF 16.10
$23.17 CHF 18.73
-14.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,851 CHF 2,305
$2,533 CHF 2,048
12.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$42.3K CHF 34.2K
$33.8K CHF 27.4K
25.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$132 CHF 107
$135 CHF 110
-2.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 CHF 45.33
$87.6 CHF 70.9
-36.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 CHF 99.1
$180 CHF 145
-31.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 CHF 112
$230 CHF 186
-39.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 CHF 1,207
$2,103 CHF 1,701
-29.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,182 CHF 956
$1,511 CHF 1,222
-21.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,695 CHF 2,179
$3,742 CHF 3,025
-27.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,403 CHF 1,943
$2,829 CHF 2,288
-15.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.9K CHF 12.8K
$18.8K CHF 15.2K
-15.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$12.4K CHF 9,995
$14.6K CHF 11.8K
-15.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,158 CHF 4,979
$7,175 CHF 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.

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