Cost of Living Comparison Between Locarno and Basel Cost of Living Comparison Between Locarno and Basel

🙂 Solo nomad: Locarno is 23.2% cheaper than Basel without rent, and 25.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Locarno is 16.4% cheaper than Basel without rent, and 21.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Locarno
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.33 CHF 21.40
$30.35 CHF 23.76
-9.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$151 CHF 118
$154 CHF 121
-2.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.32 CHF 12.78
$19.43 CHF 15.21
-16.01%
Cappuccino
$4.80 CHF 3.76
$7.03 CHF 5.50
-31.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.14 CHF 4.03
$5.76 CHF 4.51
-10.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50 CHF 3.52
$5.06 CHF 3.96
-11.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.28 CHF 5.70
$9.82 CHF 7.69
-25.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 CHF 5.56
$7.29 CHF 5.71
-2.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Locarno
Basel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 CHF 1.41
$2.19 CHF 1.71
-17.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 CHF 2.09
$3.88 CHF 3.04
-31.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.50 CHF 1.96
$5.15 CHF 4.03
-51.46%
Eggs
$6.05 CHF 4.74
$7.87 CHF 6.16
-23.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.69 CHF 21.68
$28.96 CHF 22.68
-4.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.95 CHF 11.71
$36.22 CHF 28.36
-58.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$37.03 CHF 28.99
$43.87 CHF 34.35
-15.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 CHF 2.18
$3.95 CHF 3.09
-29.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 CHF 1.42
$2.61 CHF 2.05
-30.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 CHF 1.41
$4.05 CHF 3.17
-55.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 CHF 2.37
$6.96 CHF 5.45
-56.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 CHF 1.08
$3.28 CHF 2.57
-58.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 CHF 1.44
$2.92 CHF 2.29
-37.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 CHF 1.41
$2.62 CHF 2.05
-31.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 CHF 0.60
$1.55 CHF 1.22
-50.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.73 CHF 8.40
$11.87 CHF 9.30
-9.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.48 CHF 8.99
$15.48 CHF 12.12
-25.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 CHF 1.79
$2.47 CHF 1.93
-7.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 CHF 1.85
$3.15 CHF 2.47
-24.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Locarno
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.84 CHF 2.22
$4.80 CHF 3.76
-40.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.6 CHF 77.2
$107 CHF 83.7
-7.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.95 CHF 5.44
$8.15 CHF 6.38
-14.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.17 CHF 3.27
$4.18 CHF 3.28
-0.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$79.2 CHF 62.0
$86.7 CHF 67.9
-8.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.21 CHF 1.73
$2.15 CHF 1.69
2.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K CHF 27.0K
$40.6K CHF 31.8K
-15.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7K CHF 32.7K
$45.3K CHF 35.4K
-7.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Locarno
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$333 CHF 260
$299 CHF 234
11.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.92 CHF 19.51
$54.6 CHF 42.72
-54.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.39 CHF 36.32
$60.4 CHF 47.25
-23.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Locarno
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.6 CHF 57.6
$88.5 CHF 69.3
-16.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.36 CHF 23.77
$41.45 CHF 32.46
-26.76%
Cinema Ticket
$20.78 CHF 16.27
$23.14 CHF 18.12
-10.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Locarno
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,462 CHF 1,145
$2,625 CHF 2,055
-44.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.3K CHF 15.1K
$34.2K CHF 26.8K
-43.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Locarno
Basel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116 CHF 91.1
$133 CHF 104
-12.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.2 CHF 46.39
$88.7 CHF 69.4
-33.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 CHF 93.6
$178 CHF 139
-32.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 CHF 92.5
$230 CHF 180
-48.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Locarno
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,035 CHF 810
$2,087 CHF 1,634
-50.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 CHF 823
$1,476 CHF 1,156
-28.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,471 CHF 1,935
$3,778 CHF 2,958
-34.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,209 CHF 1,730
$2,825 CHF 2,212
-21.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,535 CHF 6,683
$17.7K CHF 13.9K
-51.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,571 CHF 5,145
$13.6K CHF 10.6K
-51.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Locarno
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,237 CHF 5,667
$8,090 CHF 6,335
-10.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.17
2.55
-14.90%

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

Last update for Locarno: March 1, 2026

Last update for Basel: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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