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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,531 per month in Lausanne vs $3,120 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,650 per month in Lausanne vs $4,725 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,768 per month in Lausanne vs $6,330 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 165%, Biel by 134%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$32.34 CHF 26.03

$24.31 CHF 19.56

33.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 CHF 120

$109 CHF 87.9

36.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.18 CHF 15.44

$16.01 CHF 12.89

19.80%

Cappuccino

$6.07 CHF 4.89

$6.15 CHF 4.95

-1.30%

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

$5.42 CHF 4.36

$5.31 CHF 4.27

2.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.70 CHF 3.78

$4.87 CHF 3.92

-3.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.64 CHF 7.76

$7.65 CHF 6.15

26.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.88 CHF 7.15

$6.88 CHF 5.54

29.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.80

$2.18 CHF 1.76

2.29%

White Bread (500g)

$4.20 CHF 3.38

$3.77 CHF 3.04

11.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 CHF 3.52

$4.26 CHF 3.43

2.82%

Eggs

$7.10 CHF 5.71

$7.54 CHF 6.07

-5.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.79 CHF 21.56

$30.72 CHF 24.73

-12.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$28.49 CHF 22.93

$34.92 CHF 28.11

-18.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$53.4 CHF 42.98

$51.7 CHF 41.62

3.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 CHF 3.04

$3.36 CHF 2.70

12.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 CHF 1.68

$2.24 CHF 1.80

-6.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 CHF 2.29

$3.01 CHF 2.42

-5.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.68 CHF 5.38

$4.11 CHF 3.31

62.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 CHF 1.98

$2.48 CHF 2.00

-0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 CHF 1.93

$2.49 CHF 2.00

-3.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CHF 2.09

$2.60 CHF 2.10

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 CHF 1.19

$0.90 CHF 0.72

63.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.94 CHF 8.81

$11.11 CHF 8.94

-1.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.48 CHF 13.26

$13.56 CHF 10.92

21.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 CHF 1.70

$2.30 CHF 1.85

-7.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 CHF 2.61

$3.33 CHF 2.68

-2.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.88 CHF 3.93

$4.42 CHF 3.55

10.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.3 CHF 75.9

$110 CHF 88.6

-14.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 CHF 6.19

$12.54 CHF 10.09

-38.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.37 CHF 2.71

$4.23 CHF 3.41

-20.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$67.5 CHF 54.3

$84.5 CHF 68.0

-20.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.79

$2.14 CHF 1.72

4.21%

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

$40.8K CHF 32.8K

$31.1K CHF 25.0K

31.22%

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

$40.8K CHF 32.9K

$28.6K CHF 23.0K

43.02%

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

$321 CHF 259

$245 CHF 197

31.14%

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

$50.5 CHF 40.63

$35.79 CHF 28.81

41.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 CHF 48.05

$56.0 CHF 45.10

6.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.6 CHF 61.7

$113 CHF 91.3

-32.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.51 CHF 38.24

$73.6 CHF 59.2

-35.42%

Cinema Ticket

$26.91 CHF 21.66

$22.57 CHF 18.17

19.23%

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

$2,769 CHF 2,229

$2,933 CHF 2,361

-5.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.0K CHF 27.4K

$42.6K CHF 34.3K

-20.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$109 CHF 88.0

$139 CHF 112

-21.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 CHF 56.4

$46.95 CHF 37.79

49.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 CHF 123

$132 CHF 106

15.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$182 CHF 146

$160 CHF 129

13.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,885 CHF 1,517

$1,289 CHF 1,037

46.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,455 CHF 1,171

$1,155 CHF 929

25.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 CHF 2,851

$2,303 CHF 1,853

53.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,920 CHF 2,350

$1,821 CHF 1,466

60.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.1K CHF 15.4K

$10.2K CHF 8,191

88.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.6K CHF 11.7K

$8,232 CHF 6,626

77.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,573 CHF 6,095

$7,807 CHF 6,283

-3.00%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Biel: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,885 in Lausanne versus $1,289 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 Lausanne versus $109 in Biel. Groceries tell a different story – $660 in Lausanne vs $670 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 $5,296 per month in Lausanne and $4,679 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 17% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,769 per month in Lausanne and $2,933 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 $3,531 in Lausanne and $3,120 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.