🙂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: Frauenfeld132% above, Basel160% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.45CHF 25.57
$29.61CHF 24.07
6.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$126CHF 102
$128CHF 104
-1.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$20.10CHF 16.34
$18.47CHF 15.01
8.83%
Cappuccino
$6.11CHF 4.97
$6.76CHF 5.50
-9.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55CHF 4.51
$6.33CHF 5.14
-12.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05CHF 4.10
$6.15CHF 5.00
-17.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.73CHF 7.10
$8.91CHF 7.24
-2.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89CHF 5.60
$9.93CHF 8.07
-30.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.31CHF 1.88
$2.34CHF 1.90
-1.28%
White Bread(500g)
$4.05CHF 3.29
$3.22CHF 2.61
25.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.42CHF 3.59
$3.36CHF 2.73
31.55%
Eggs
$7.85CHF 6.38
$8.03CHF 6.53
-2.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.83CHF 22.62
$26.94CHF 21.90
3.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$29.91CHF 24.31
$27.83CHF 22.63
7.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$43.12CHF 35.06
$41.82CHF 34.00
3.11%
Apples(1kg)
$3.79CHF 3.08
$3.60CHF 2.93
5.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28CHF 1.85
$2.35CHF 1.91
-2.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91CHF 2.36
$3.12CHF 2.54
-6.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.49CHF 4.46
$4.84CHF 3.93
13.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.44CHF 1.98
$1.73CHF 1.40
41.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.50CHF 2.04
$2.07CHF 1.68
20.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.40CHF 1.95
$2.33CHF 1.89
3.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24CHF 1.00
$1.63CHF 1.33
-23.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.34CHF 9.22
$11.39CHF 9.26
-0.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.17CHF 12.34
$12.41CHF 10.09
22.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94CHF 2.39
$2.62CHF 2.13
12.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97CHF 3.23
$3.21CHF 2.61
23.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.51CHF 3.66
$4.60CHF 3.74
-1.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$100CHF 81.5
$108CHF 88.2
-7.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.56CHF 4.52
$8.16CHF 6.63
-31.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.51CHF 2.85
$4.67CHF 3.80
-24.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.7CHF 50.2
$85.9CHF 69.8
-28.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31CHF 1.88
$2.27CHF 1.85
1.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6KCHF 35.5K
$43.8KCHF 35.6K
-0.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8KCHF 32.3K
$39.8KCHF 32.4K
-0.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$232CHF 189
$304CHF 247
-23.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.80CHF 33.17
$54.2CHF 44.05
-24.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8CHF 51.9
$64.7CHF 52.6
-1.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$102CHF 83.0
$83.3CHF 67.7
22.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.27CHF 38.43
$58.5CHF 47.56
-19.20%
Cinema Ticket
$24.20CHF 19.67
$23.78CHF 19.34
1.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,861CHF 1,513
$3,055CHF 2,484
-39.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$33.7KCHF 27.4K
$32.6KCHF 26.5K
3.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$168CHF 137
$147CHF 120
14.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1CHF 46.41
$81.7CHF 66.4
-30.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$195CHF 159
$166CHF 135
17.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142CHF 115
$206CHF 167
-31.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,525CHF 1,240
$2,095CHF 1,703
-27.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233CHF 1,003
$1,529CHF 1,243
-19.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,690CHF 2,187
$3,547CHF 2,884
-24.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,474CHF 2,011
$2,865CHF 2,329
-13.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.7KCHF 13.6K
$18.2KCHF 14.8K
-8.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.3KCHF 9,967
$14.8KCHF 12.1K
-17.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frauenfeld
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,365CHF 5,175
$7,405CHF 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.
Frauenfeld vs other spots: cost of living compared