Cost of Living Comparison Between Lugano and Basel Cost of Living Comparison Between Lugano and Basel

🙂 Solo nomad: Lugano is 6.2% cheaper than Basel without rent, and 13.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lugano is 4.8% cheaper than Basel without rent, and 5.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lugano
Basel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.54 CHF 24.83
$31.25 CHF 25.41
-2.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$184 CHF 149
$156 CHF 127
18.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.53 CHF 15.07
$19.97 CHF 16.24
-7.21%
Cappuccino
$4.24 CHF 3.45
$6.94 CHF 5.65
-38.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.7 CHF 3.82
$5.53 CHF 4.49
-15.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 CHF 3.3
$4.98 CHF 4.05
-18.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.18 CHF 5.84
$10.15 CHF 8.26
-29.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.59 CHF 6.17
$7.31 CHF 5.94
3.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lugano
Basel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 CHF 1.84
$2.27 CHF 1.84
-0.44%
White Bread (500g)
$3.51 CHF 2.86
$3.74 CHF 3.04
-6.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.72 CHF 3.84
$5.06 CHF 4.12
-6.72%
Eggs
$6.69 CHF 5.44
$7.78 CHF 6.32
-14.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.42 CHF 22.29
$28.37 CHF 23.06
-3.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$37.36 CHF 30.38
$37 CHF 30.08
0.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$47.43 CHF 38.56
$43.73 CHF 35.55
8.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 CHF 2.63
$3.86 CHF 3.14
-16.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 CHF 1.64
$2.7 CHF 2.2
-25.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.51 CHF 2.04
$4.05 CHF 3.3
-38.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.37 CHF 6
$6.86 CHF 5.58
7.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 CHF 1.78
$3.13 CHF 2.54
-30.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 CHF 1.84
$2.87 CHF 2.33
-21.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.56 CHF 2.08
$2.66 CHF 2.16
-3.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.3 CHF 1.05
$1.48 CHF 1.21
-12.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.78 CHF 8.76
$11.76 CHF 9.56
-8.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.91 CHF 8.87
$15.36 CHF 12.49
-28.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 CHF 2.16
$2.33 CHF 1.9
14.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 CHF 3.4
$3.01 CHF 2.45
39.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Lugano
Basel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.26 CHF 2.65
$4.8 CHF 3.91
-32.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.8 CHF 70.5
$105 CHF 85.4
-17.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.6 CHF 5.37
$7.9 CHF 6.42
-16.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.47 CHF 3.64
$4.12 CHF 3.35
8.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.9 CHF 49.49
$87.7 CHF 71.3
-30.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.21 CHF 1.8
$2.23 CHF 1.81
-0.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8K CHF 32.3K
$40.7K CHF 33.1K
-2.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9K CHF 30.8K
$45.6K CHF 37.1K
-16.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lugano
Basel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$203 CHF 165
$309 CHF 251
-34.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.2 CHF 59.5
$54.1 CHF 44
35.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.1 CHF 44.78
$59.6 CHF 48.5
-7.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lugano
Basel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$111 CHF 90
$88.4 CHF 71.9
25.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$62 CHF 50.4
$42.41 CHF 34.49
46.10%
Cinema Ticket
$18.76 CHF 15.25
$23.02 CHF 18.71
-18.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lugano
Basel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,245 CHF 1,012
$2,539 CHF 2,064
-50.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.5K CHF 28.8K
$34.5K CHF 28K
2.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lugano
Basel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$126 CHF 103
$136 CHF 111
-7.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.68 CHF 38.77
$87.7 CHF 71.3
-45.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 CHF 108
$178 CHF 145
-25.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151 CHF 123
$228 CHF 185
-33.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lugano
Basel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,648 CHF 1,340
$2,108 CHF 1,714
-21.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,256 CHF 1,021
$1,500 CHF 1,220
-16.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,885 CHF 2,345
$3,798 CHF 3,088
-24.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,649 CHF 2,154
$2,881 CHF 2,343
-8.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$17.6K CHF 14.3K
$21K CHF 17.1K
-16.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$18.8K CHF 15.3K
$17K CHF 13.8K
10.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lugano
Basel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,350 CHF 5,976
$8,088 CHF 6,576
-9.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.5
2.55
-1.96%

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

Last update for Lugano: October 28, 2025

Last update for Basel: October 29, 2025

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