🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,028 in Frauenfeld versus $3,653 in Basel.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,964 in Frauenfeld versus $5,857 in Basel.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,900 in Frauenfeld versus $8,062 in Basel.
🙂Living in Frauenfeld costs roughly 17% less than in Basel, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Frauenfeld126% above, Basel173% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.61CHF 20.98
$30.72CHF 24.22
-13.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$139CHF 109
$156CHF 123
-10.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.92CHF 12.55
$19.37CHF 15.27
-17.81%
Cappuccino
$6.18CHF 4.87
$6.75CHF 5.32
-8.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94CHF 3.90
$5.67CHF 4.47
-12.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28CHF 3.38
$5.02CHF 3.96
-14.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.12CHF 4.82
$10.09CHF 7.95
-39.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.67CHF 4.47
$7.45CHF 5.87
-23.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91CHF 1.51
$2.24CHF 1.77
-14.73%
White Bread(500g)
$3.64CHF 2.87
$3.73CHF 2.94
-2.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.01CHF 2.38
$4.99CHF 3.94
-39.68%
Eggs
$7.63CHF 6.02
$8.16CHF 6.44
-6.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.73CHF 21.07
$28.67CHF 22.60
-6.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$29.48CHF 23.25
$35.93CHF 28.33
-17.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$51.5CHF 40.59
$43.12CHF 34.00
19.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.55CHF 2.80
$3.98CHF 3.14
-10.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25CHF 1.77
$2.60CHF 2.05
-13.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.50CHF 1.97
$4.24CHF 3.35
-41.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39CHF 1.88
$6.96CHF 5.49
-65.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.37CHF 1.87
$3.23CHF 2.55
-26.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.42CHF 1.91
$2.94CHF 2.32
-17.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89CHF 1.49
$2.51CHF 1.98
-24.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26CHF 1.00
$1.55CHF 1.22
-18.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.00CHF 8.67
$11.68CHF 9.21
-5.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.89CHF 10.95
$13.81CHF 10.89
0.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50CHF 1.97
$2.39CHF 1.88
4.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80CHF 1.42
$3.16CHF 2.49
-43.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.04CHF 3.18
$4.58CHF 3.61
-11.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.9CHF 77.2
$105CHF 82.4
-6.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.08CHF 6.37
$7.99CHF 6.30
1.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.15CHF 3.27
$4.31CHF 3.40
-3.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.0CHF 68.6
$87.2CHF 68.8
-0.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20CHF 1.73
$2.23CHF 1.75
-1.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.8KCHF 32.2K
$40.4KCHF 31.9K
0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.6KCHF 33.6K
$44.3KCHF 34.9K
-3.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249CHF 196
$306CHF 241
-18.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.82CHF 33.76
$53.5CHF 42.20
-19.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.2CHF 45.12
$58.9CHF 46.40
-2.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$104CHF 81.7
$90.3CHF 71.2
14.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$42.50CHF 33.51
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.04CHF 15.80
$22.72CHF 17.91
-11.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,913CHF 2,296
$2,574CHF 2,029
13.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$42.5KCHF 33.5K
$34.0KCHF 26.8K
25.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$130CHF 102
$134CHF 105
-2.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2CHF 43.49
$88.3CHF 69.6
-37.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124CHF 98.0
$181CHF 143
-31.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142CHF 112
$227CHF 179
-37.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,492CHF 1,176
$2,112CHF 1,665
-29.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,184CHF 933
$1,519CHF 1,197
-22.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,659CHF 2,097
$3,828CHF 3,018
-30.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,436CHF 1,920
$2,802CHF 2,209
-13.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.8KCHF 10.9K
$19.1KCHF 15.0K
-27.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.2KCHF 8,045
$14.2KCHF 11.2K
-28.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,486CHF 5,113
$8,292CHF 6,537
-21.78%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Basel: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,492 in Frauenfeld and $2,112 in Basel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Basel pays 28% 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: $139 in Frauenfeld vs $156 in Basel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $612 vs $685 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 21% 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 Basel?
On paper, Basel earns 28% less. 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 vs Basel?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,492 in Frauenfeld versus $2,112 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 Basel?
Childcare runs $2,913 in Frauenfeld versus $2,574 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 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 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 $3,028 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 21% 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