How Much Does It Cost to Live In Basel?
Switzerland is a dream land for many people trying to find their luck somewhere in the world.
Due to its great economy which means there are well paid jobs for its citizens in all the major cities there, Switzerland remains the greatest and most wanted migrant destination.
Basel, as one of the most famous cities there has to offer everything a person needs for a decent lifestyle and if he/she is lucky enough to find a well paid job, than there is even more.
Switzerland : Cost of Living by City
Cost of Living in Switzerland
RESTAURANTS
Even though it is not the most expensive city in Switzerland, eating out in Basel can make a huge hole in your budget.
Actually, a meal for a family can exceed $100 in the least expensive restaurants.
Paying almost $8 for a bottle of beer in some other countries would be considered unreasonable.
MARKETS
Belonging to the several cities ranked among the most costly on the planet, Basel is pretty expensive when it comes to food and you will need to spend wisely most of your time.
This means buying food at discounted prices and at local markets, rather than purchasing it at the stores.
TRANSPORTATION
If you choose to live outside of the city in order to save some money on the rent, you will find the cost of living much lower, but you will have to pay more for commuting.
Public transport is efficient and punctual, but can be pricey for those who do not earn much.
Driving is not advisable in Basel at all.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
When basic services are in question, Basel has extremely high prices.
Water, power, garbage and heating take more than $250 per month.
Above this, there is the Internet access at the price of $56.
In general, Switzerland is the country of very expensive utilities.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Considering the fact that people in Switzerland devote a lot of time and money on sports, fitness clubs are pretty pricey here.
You should pay $100 a month for exercising in the gym, or almost $40 for one hour of tennis.
Cinema tickets are around $20, which is not inexpensive.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Basel is definitely not an ideal place for shopping for clothes.
Actually, it is one of the most expensive cities in Switzerland when the apparel is in question.
You will need more than $120 for a pair of jeans or shoes, and the prices are high due to the great salaries here.
RENT PER MONTH
The major factor that adds expenses for newcomers in Switzerland which are not the usual expenses of its inhabitants are housing costs.
You will have to devote at least $1100 for the smallest apartment away from the city center, while the family people would need to pay around $2500 for the rent.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Basel
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $24.89 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $7.96 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $3.14 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $6.15 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $2.62 |
| Eggs (12) | $5.66 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $3.58 |
| Monthly Pass | $79.63 |
| Gasoline | $6.05 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $253.92 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.38 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $56.02 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $95.81 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $37.16 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $19.91 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $120.90 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $42.05 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $107.36 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1265.96 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $1113.08 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $2488.59 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Basel?
Basel is a fantastic destination for a permanent move, but before arriving there it is good to know how the average person spends money here and organizes the budget, so as to get acquainted with possible expenses.
The amount you pay in rent is a big driver of your overall cost of living, as you will not have your own property.
Public transportation in Basel is excellent, but expensive, and you can save some money if you walk or travel by bike.
Food can be expensive, but as a savvy person you will know that preparing it at home would be a great benefit to the budget.
Average Costs Breakdown
Basel: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
It is true that living expenses here are extremely high, but the salaries are also pretty high to match all the costs.
If you can negotiate the income with your employer, make sure to require a salary high enough to cover all the bills, as living here is not cheap.
Every salary below the average would make you struggle here, as the rent will take you quite a lot of money and very little will be left for other also expensive things, such as transportation, utilities and food.
Basel Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Basel Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Basel
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Bern | 118.42 |
| Geneva | 118.33 |
| Lausanne | 119.62 |
| Lugano | 111.88 |
| Zurich | 128.65 |
