Cost of Living Comparison Between Lausanne and Biel Cost of Living Comparison Between Lausanne and Biel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,498 per month in Lausanne vs $3,096 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,732 per month in Lausanne vs $4,763 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,966 per month in Lausanne vs $6,429 in Biel, rent included.

Lausanne costs about 13% more than Biel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lausanne and Biel sit above the global median – Lausanne by 161%, Biel by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$33.00 CHF 26.10

$24.71 CHF 19.54

33.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 CHF 116

$113 CHF 89.3

30.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.28 CHF 15.25

$16.03 CHF 12.68

20.27%

Cappuccino

$6.09 CHF 4.82

$6.33 CHF 5.01

-3.79%

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

$5.33 CHF 4.21

$5.32 CHF 4.21

0.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.80 CHF 3.80

$5.06 CHF 4.00

-5.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.02 CHF 7.93

$7.79 CHF 6.16

28.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.55 CHF 6.76

$6.87 CHF 5.43

24.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.80

$2.25 CHF 1.78

0.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.10 CHF 3.25

$3.72 CHF 2.94

10.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.46 CHF 3.53

$4.28 CHF 3.38

4.21%

Eggs

$7.15 CHF 5.66

$7.51 CHF 5.94

-4.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.38 CHF 20.86

$30.27 CHF 23.95

-12.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$28.91 CHF 22.87

$35.98 CHF 28.46

-19.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$52.6 CHF 41.57

$50.9 CHF 40.22

3.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 CHF 2.89

$3.28 CHF 2.59

11.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 CHF 1.70

$2.31 CHF 1.83

-6.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 CHF 2.32

$2.98 CHF 2.36

-1.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.57 CHF 5.19

$4.35 CHF 3.44

51.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CHF 1.93

$2.49 CHF 1.97

-2.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 CHF 1.85

$2.39 CHF 1.89

-2.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 CHF 2.08

$2.67 CHF 2.11

-1.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 CHF 1.11

$0.89 CHF 0.70

57.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.02 CHF 8.72

$11.12 CHF 8.80

-0.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.17 CHF 12.79

$12.63 CHF 9.99

28.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 CHF 1.59

$2.40 CHF 1.90

-16.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CHF 2.55

$3.32 CHF 2.63

-2.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.86 CHF 3.84

$4.47 CHF 3.53

8.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.0 CHF 75.9

$109 CHF 86.3

-12.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 CHF 6.22

$12.54 CHF 9.92

-37.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.32 CHF 2.62

$4.05 CHF 3.20

-18.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.6 CHF 51.9

$82.4 CHF 65.2

-20.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.76

$2.15 CHF 1.70

3.72%

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

$39.9K CHF 31.5K

$31.3K CHF 24.8K

27.24%

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

$40.8K CHF 32.3K

$28.5K CHF 22.5K

43.27%

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

$324 CHF 256

$244 CHF 193

32.58%

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

$49.73 CHF 39.34

$36.50 CHF 28.87

36.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.4 CHF 46.22

$55.6 CHF 43.97

5.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.4 CHF 61.3

$114 CHF 90.3

-32.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.11 CHF 38.85

$73.2 CHF 57.9

-32.86%

Cinema Ticket

$26.10 CHF 20.64

$21.76 CHF 17.21

19.94%

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

$2,823 CHF 2,233

$2,865 CHF 2,266

-1.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.6K CHF 27.4K

$42.2K CHF 33.4K

-17.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$108 CHF 85.5

$141 CHF 111

-23.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.2 CHF 55.5

$45.49 CHF 35.98

54.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 CHF 121

$131 CHF 104

16.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$187 CHF 148

$159 CHF 126

17.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,884 CHF 1,490

$1,298 CHF 1,027

45.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,465 CHF 1,158

$1,126 CHF 890

30.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 CHF 2,835

$2,273 CHF 1,798

57.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,901 CHF 2,295

$1,871 CHF 1,480

55.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.0K CHF 15.8K

$9,986 CHF 7,899

99.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$15.0K CHF 11.8K

$8,438 CHF 6,674

77.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,840 CHF 6,202

$7,974 CHF 6,307

-1.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

1.88

32.98%

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

Last update for Lausanne: April 25, 2026

Last update for Biel: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,884 in Lausanne 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 2% 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 Lausanne versus $113 in Biel. Groceries tell a different story – $656 in Lausanne vs $672 in Biel – so Lausanne 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

Lausanne vs Biel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lausanne is pricier by about 13%, 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 $5,246 per month in Lausanne 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 14% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,823 per month in Lausanne 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 $3,498 in Lausanne 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, Lausanne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.