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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,848 per month in Lausanne vs $2,916 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,851 per month in Lausanne vs $4,536 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,855 per month in Lausanne vs $6,157 in Biel, rent included.

Lausanne costs about 32% more than Biel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lausanne and Biel sit above the global median – Lausanne by 181%, Biel by 113%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.46 CHF 24.35

$31.25 CHF 24.99

-2.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$124 CHF 98.8

$110 CHF 88.2

12.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.03 CHF 15.22

$17.96 CHF 14.36

5.96%

Cappuccino

$6.09 CHF 4.87

$6.28 CHF 5.02

-3.03%

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

$5.08 CHF 4.06

$5.10 CHF 4.08

-0.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 CHF 3.43

$4.28 CHF 3.43

0.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.51 CHF 8.40

$7.81 CHF 6.24

34.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.05 CHF 8.04

$4.92 CHF 3.93

104.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CHF 1.76

$2.22 CHF 1.78

-0.90%

White Bread (500g)

$4.04 CHF 3.23

$4.06 CHF 3.25

-0.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.27 CHF 2.61

$3.43 CHF 2.74

-4.66%

Eggs

$6.99 CHF 5.59

$7.24 CHF 5.79

-3.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.50 CHF 20.39

$23.22 CHF 18.56

9.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.82 CHF 21.45

$26.97 CHF 21.56

-0.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$44.47 CHF 35.55

$44.39 CHF 35.49

0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 CHF 2.89

$3.22 CHF 2.58

12.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 CHF 1.67

$2.20 CHF 1.76

-5.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 CHF 1.99

$2.47 CHF 1.97

0.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 CHF 3.83

$3.29 CHF 2.63

45.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 CHF 1.46

$1.50 CHF 1.20

22.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 CHF 1.60

$1.90 CHF 1.52

5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 CHF 1.78

$2.21 CHF 1.77

0.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 CHF 1.50

$1.14 CHF 0.91

64.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.23 CHF 8.98

$11.05 CHF 8.83

1.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.89 CHF 12.71

$15.93 CHF 12.74

-0.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 CHF 2.21

$0.91 CHF 0.73

203.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 CHF 2.64

$1.84 CHF 1.47

79.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.48 CHF 3.58

$4.90 CHF 3.92

-8.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.4 CHF 75.5

$95.0 CHF 76.0

-0.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.05 CHF 6.44

$8.00 CHF 6.40

0.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.70 CHF 3.76

$4.59 CHF 3.67

2.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.5 CHF 68.4

$85.1 CHF 68.1

0.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.28 CHF 1.82

$2.22 CHF 1.78

2.70%

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

$43.8K CHF 35.0K

$43.1K CHF 34.5K

1.41%

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

$39.4K CHF 31.5K

$35.0K CHF 28.0K

12.60%

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

$286 CHF 228

$141 CHF 113

101.82%

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

$37.87 CHF 30.28

$36.50 CHF 29.18

3.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.7 CHF 42.10

$51.7 CHF 41.33

1.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.9 CHF 59.1

$76.9 CHF 61.5

-3.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.15 CHF 39.30

Cinema Ticket

$25.08 CHF 20.05

$22.20 CHF 17.75

12.97%

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

$2,974 CHF 2,378

$2,665 CHF 2,131

11.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.2K CHF 30.6K

$37.5K CHF 30.0K

1.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$146 CHF 117

$110 CHF 87.6

33.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$78.6 CHF 62.8

$49.60 CHF 39.66

58.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 CHF 114

-0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$221 CHF 177

$222 CHF 177

-0.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,292 CHF 1,833

$1,293 CHF 1,034

77.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,855 CHF 1,483

$1,143 CHF 914

62.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,376 CHF 3,499

$2,278 CHF 1,822

92.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,352 CHF 2,680

$2,045 CHF 1,635

63.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.9K CHF 15.1K

$9,821 CHF 7,853

92.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$14.2K CHF 11.4K

$7,971 CHF 6,373

78.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,699 CHF 5,356

$5,625 CHF 4,498

19.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.95

1.68

16.07%

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

Last update for Lausanne: August 17, 2026

Last update for Biel: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,292 in Lausanne versus $1,293 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 19% higher in Lausanne, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $124 in Lausanne versus $110 in Biel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $605 vs $570 – 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

Lausanne vs Biel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lausanne is pricier by about 32%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,771 per month in Lausanne and $4,374 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 1% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,974 per month in Lausanne and $2,665 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 $3,848 in Lausanne and $2,916 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.