Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Biel Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Biel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,131 per month in Geneva vs $3,095 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,472 per month in Geneva vs $4,727 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,814 per month in Geneva vs $6,358 in Biel, rent included.

Geneva costs about 33% more than Biel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Geneva and Biel sit above the global median – Geneva by 210%, Biel by 133%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$36.23 CHF 29.47

$24.66 CHF 20.06

46.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 CHF 119

$113 CHF 91.6

30.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.77 CHF 15.26

$16.23 CHF 13.20

15.65%

Cappuccino

$6.00 CHF 4.88

$6.19 CHF 5.03

-3.07%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 CHF 4.42

$5.18 CHF 4.21

5.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.83 CHF 3.93

$4.84 CHF 3.94

-0.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.03 CHF 8.16

$7.53 CHF 6.12

33.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.48 CHF 6.90

$6.86 CHF 5.58

23.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.80

$2.19 CHF 1.78

0.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 CHF 3.23

$3.73 CHF 3.03

6.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.30 CHF 3.50

$4.28 CHF 3.48

0.47%

Eggs

$7.60 CHF 6.18

$7.30 CHF 5.93

4.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.80 CHF 21.80

$30.19 CHF 24.56

-11.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.90 CHF 26.76

$35.60 CHF 28.95

-7.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$53.1 CHF 43.21

$51.2 CHF 41.66

3.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 CHF 2.92

$3.37 CHF 2.74

6.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 CHF 2.04

$2.22 CHF 1.80

13.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 CHF 2.42

$3.01 CHF 2.45

-1.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 CHF 5.09

$4.25 CHF 3.46

47.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CHF 2.07

$2.41 CHF 1.96

5.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 CHF 1.89

$2.51 CHF 2.04

-7.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 CHF 2.12

$2.68 CHF 2.18

-2.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 CHF 1.08

$0.89 CHF 0.73

49.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.95 CHF 8.90

$11.14 CHF 9.06

-1.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.42 CHF 10.10

$15.28 CHF 12.43

-18.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 CHF 2.72

$2.33 CHF 1.90

43.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 CHF 3.08

$3.34 CHF 2.71

13.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.60 CHF 2.93

$4.34 CHF 3.53

-17.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.0 CHF 69.1

$109 CHF 88.5

-21.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.37 CHF 5.99

$12.20 CHF 9.92

-39.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.51 CHF 2.86

$4.10 CHF 3.34

-14.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$63.9 CHF 52.0

$82.9 CHF 67.4

-22.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.79

$2.24 CHF 1.82

-1.34%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.1K CHF 32.7K

$30.9K CHF 25.2K

29.77%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$49.5K CHF 40.3K

$28.2K CHF 22.9K

75.98%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$259 CHF 211

$250 CHF 203

3.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$47.91 CHF 38.97

$36.83 CHF 29.95

30.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.2 CHF 52.2

$57.2 CHF 46.49

12.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.9 CHF 65.8

$117 CHF 94.9

-30.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.86 CHF 29.98

$74.0 CHF 60.2

-50.20%

Cinema Ticket

$24.51 CHF 19.93

$22.35 CHF 18.18

9.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,517 CHF 2,860

$2,900 CHF 2,359

21.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.7K CHF 27.4K

$42.9K CHF 34.9K

-21.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 CHF 113

$136 CHF 111

1.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$79.6 CHF 64.8

$46.65 CHF 37.94

70.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 CHF 135

$132 CHF 107

25.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$209 CHF 170

$158 CHF 129

31.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,353 CHF 1,914

$1,294 CHF 1,052

81.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 CHF 1,691

$1,162 CHF 945

78.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,650 CHF 3,782

$2,272 CHF 1,848

104.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,813 CHF 3,101

$1,827 CHF 1,486

108.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$22.7K CHF 18.5K

$9,886 CHF 8,041

129.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.7K CHF 12.8K

$7,956 CHF 6,471

97.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,297 CHF 5,935

$7,723 CHF 6,282

-5.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.46

1.88

30.85%

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

Last update for Geneva: July 26, 2026

Last update for Biel: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,353 in Geneva versus $1,294 in Biel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Biel, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $147 in Geneva versus $113 in Biel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $678 vs $674 – making Biel the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Geneva vs Biel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,197 per month in Geneva and $4,643 in Biel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Biel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 28% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,517 per month in Geneva and $2,900 in Biel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,131 in Geneva and $3,095 in Biel. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Biel – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Biel. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Geneva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.