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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,164 per month in Geneva vs $3,090 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,467 per month in Geneva vs $4,810 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,770 per month in Geneva vs $6,531 in Biel, rent included.

Geneva costs about 35% more than Biel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Geneva and Biel sit above the global median – Geneva by 210%, Biel by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$36.87 CHF 29.27

$24.74 CHF 19.64

49.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 CHF 115

$111 CHF 88.4

30.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.57 CHF 14.74

$16.06 CHF 12.75

15.63%

Cappuccino

$6.02 CHF 4.78

$6.13 CHF 4.87

-1.79%

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

$5.34 CHF 4.24

$5.27 CHF 4.18

1.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 CHF 3.86

$5.07 CHF 4.03

-4.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.58 CHF 7.61

$7.56 CHF 6.00

26.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.36 CHF 6.64

$6.73 CHF 5.34

24.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.75

$2.25 CHF 1.78

-1.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.94 CHF 3.13

$3.83 CHF 3.04

2.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 CHF 3.40

$4.21 CHF 3.35

1.66%

Eggs

$7.50 CHF 5.95

$7.42 CHF 5.89

1.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.37 CHF 21.73

$30.45 CHF 24.17

-10.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.50 CHF 25.80

$35.97 CHF 28.56

-9.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$53.2 CHF 42.21

$51.6 CHF 40.95

3.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 CHF 2.76

$3.37 CHF 2.68

2.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 CHF 2.02

$2.27 CHF 1.80

12.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 CHF 2.47

$3.00 CHF 2.38

3.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 CHF 4.92

$4.11 CHF 3.26

50.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 CHF 2.09

$2.49 CHF 1.97

5.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 CHF 1.85

$2.47 CHF 1.96

-5.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 CHF 1.97

$2.70 CHF 2.14

-8.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 CHF 1.06

$0.96 CHF 0.76

39.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.96 CHF 8.70

$10.88 CHF 8.64

0.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 CHF 9.88

$13.76 CHF 10.93

-9.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 CHF 2.55

$2.33 CHF 1.85

37.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 CHF 2.99

$3.29 CHF 2.61

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.81 CHF 3.02

$4.52 CHF 3.59

-15.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.1 CHF 68.3

$110 CHF 87.3

-21.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.68 CHF 6.10

$12.26 CHF 9.73

-37.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.64 CHF 2.89

$4.09 CHF 3.24

-11.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$63.9 CHF 50.8

$83.3 CHF 66.2

-23.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.28 CHF 1.81

$2.23 CHF 1.77

2.24%

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

$40.8K CHF 32.4K

$30.3K CHF 24.0K

34.71%

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

$49.7K CHF 39.5K

$28.3K CHF 22.5K

75.41%

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

$259 CHF 205

$251 CHF 200

2.93%

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

$48.72 CHF 38.68

$36.85 CHF 29.26

32.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 CHF 49.56

$55.6 CHF 44.16

12.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.4 CHF 63.8

$116 CHF 92.1

-30.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.17 CHF 28.71

$73.3 CHF 58.2

-50.68%

Cinema Ticket

$24.70 CHF 19.61

$22.57 CHF 17.92

9.44%

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

$3,414 CHF 2,710

$2,842 CHF 2,256

20.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.7K CHF 25.9K

$42.1K CHF 33.4K

-22.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$136 CHF 108

$141 CHF 112

-3.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.2 CHF 63.6

$46.15 CHF 36.64

73.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 CHF 132

$130 CHF 103

27.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$207 CHF 165

$161 CHF 128

28.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,339 CHF 1,857

$1,282 CHF 1,018

82.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,018 CHF 1,602

$1,132 CHF 899

78.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,705 CHF 3,735

$2,273 CHF 1,805

106.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,900 CHF 3,096

$1,868 CHF 1,483

108.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.1K CHF 18.3K

$9,844 CHF 7,815

134.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.5K CHF 13.1K

$8,108 CHF 6,437

103.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,654 CHF 6,076

$7,948 CHF 6,310

-3.70%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Biel: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,339 in Geneva versus $1,282 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 4% 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 $145 in Geneva versus $111 in Biel. Groceries tell a different story – $676 in Geneva vs $677 in Biel – so Geneva wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 35%, 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 $6,245 per month in Geneva and $4,635 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 $3,414 per month in Geneva and $2,842 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 $4,164 in Geneva and $3,090 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.