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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,110 per month in Geneva vs $3,096 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,453 per month in Geneva vs $4,763 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,795 per month in Geneva vs $6,429 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 207%, Biel by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$37.47 CHF 29.64

$24.71 CHF 19.54

51.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 118

$113 CHF 89.3

31.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.30 CHF 14.47

$16.03 CHF 12.68

14.16%

Cappuccino

$6.04 CHF 4.78

$6.33 CHF 5.01

-4.58%

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

$5.43 CHF 4.30

$5.32 CHF 4.21

2.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 CHF 3.77

$5.06 CHF 4.00

-5.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.82 CHF 7.77

$7.79 CHF 6.16

26.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.57 CHF 6.78

$6.87 CHF 5.43

24.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CHF 1.74

$2.25 CHF 1.78

-2.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.77 CHF 2.99

$3.72 CHF 2.94

1.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 CHF 3.41

$4.28 CHF 3.38

0.70%

Eggs

$7.68 CHF 6.08

$7.51 CHF 5.94

2.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.00 CHF 21.35

$30.27 CHF 23.95

-10.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$33.58 CHF 26.56

$35.98 CHF 28.46

-6.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$52.5 CHF 41.53

$50.9 CHF 40.22

3.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 CHF 2.80

$3.28 CHF 2.59

7.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 CHF 1.99

$2.31 CHF 1.83

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.06 CHF 2.42

$2.98 CHF 2.36

2.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.46 CHF 5.11

$4.35 CHF 3.44

48.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 CHF 2.06

$2.49 CHF 1.97

4.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 CHF 1.87

$2.39 CHF 1.89

-0.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CHF 2.05

$2.67 CHF 2.11

-3.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 CHF 1.05

$0.89 CHF 0.70

48.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.01 CHF 8.71

$11.12 CHF 8.80

-0.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.78 CHF 10.11

$12.63 CHF 9.99

1.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 CHF 2.64

$2.40 CHF 1.90

39.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 CHF 2.97

$3.32 CHF 2.63

12.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.61 CHF 2.86

$4.47 CHF 3.53

-19.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.7 CHF 67.0

$109 CHF 86.3

-22.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.49 CHF 5.92

$12.54 CHF 9.92

-40.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 CHF 2.88

$4.05 CHF 3.20

-9.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$64.2 CHF 50.8

$82.4 CHF 65.2

-22.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.73

$2.15 CHF 1.70

1.86%

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

$39.7K CHF 31.4K

$31.3K CHF 24.8K

26.84%

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

$50.2K CHF 39.7K

$28.5K CHF 22.5K

76.21%

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

$259 CHF 205

$244 CHF 193

5.96%

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

$49.41 CHF 39.08

$36.50 CHF 28.87

35.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 CHF 49.69

$55.6 CHF 43.97

13.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.1 CHF 64.9

$114 CHF 90.3

-28.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.50 CHF 28.88

$73.2 CHF 57.9

-50.10%

Cinema Ticket

$24.98 CHF 19.76

$21.76 CHF 17.21

14.80%

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

$3,424 CHF 2,708

$2,865 CHF 2,266

19.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.7K CHF 26.6K

$42.2K CHF 33.4K

-20.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$136 CHF 108

$141 CHF 111

-3.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.9 CHF 64.0

$45.49 CHF 35.98

77.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 CHF 131

$131 CHF 104

25.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$210 CHF 166

$159 CHF 126

32.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 CHF 1,865

$1,298 CHF 1,027

81.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,999 CHF 1,581

$1,126 CHF 890

77.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,802 CHF 3,798

$2,273 CHF 1,798

111.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,866 CHF 3,058

$1,871 CHF 1,480

106.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.0K CHF 18.2K

$9,986 CHF 7,899

129.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17.6K CHF 13.9K

$8,438 CHF 6,674

108.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,748 CHF 6,128

$7,974 CHF 6,307

-2.84%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Biel: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,357 in Geneva versus $1,298 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 3% 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 $149 in Geneva versus $113 in Biel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $680 vs $672 – 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 $6,165 per month in Geneva and $4,644 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 29% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,424 per month in Geneva and $2,865 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 $4,110 in Geneva and $3,096 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.