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: $3,028 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: Frauenfeld 126% above, Basel 173% above.

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

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