City in Basel-Stadt, Switzerland
Cost of living in Basel
How much a month costs in Basel
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $5,310–7,480 (CHF4,400–6,200).
Prices in Basel
Typical 2026 ranges in CHF, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | CHF | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | CHF1,800–2,800 | $2,170–3,380 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | CHF1,400–2,200 | $1,690–2,650 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | CHF40–70 | $48–84 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | CHF150–290 | $181–350 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | CHF15–24 | $18–29 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | CHF35–60 | $42–72 |
| Cappuccino | CHF4–5 | $4.8–6.0 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | CHF5–8 | $6.0–9.7 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | CHF2–4 | $2.4–4.8 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | CHF25–40 | $30–48 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | CHF90–150 | $109–181 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | CHF20–45 | $24–54 |
Value for money: 2/100
A value score of 2/100 means Basel gives more quality of life per dollar than 1% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 84/100. It's the 6th most affordable of 12 places we cover in Switzerland.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Switzerland
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Lugano | $4,830–7,000 | 3/100 |
| Interlaken | $5,070–7,000 | 3/100 |
| Lucerne | $5,190–7,240 | 2/100 |
| Bern | $5,190–7,240 | 2/100 |
| Lausanne | $5,190–7,240 | 1/100 |
| Basel | $5,310–7,480 | 2/100 |
| Grindelwald | $5,430–7,840 | 1/100 |
| Montreux | $5,430–7,840 | 2/100 |
| Zurich | $5,790–7,840 | 1/100 |
| Geneva | $6,030–8,210 | — |
| Zermatt | $6,030–9,050 | 1/100 |
| St. Moritz | $6,640–9,650 | — |
Cheaper alternatives to Basel
Similar safety, lower cost, in Europe.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Sibiu | Romania | $1,160–1,690 |
| Santiago de Compostela | Spain | $1,580–2,250 |
| Toledo | Spain | $1,690–2,360 |
| Córdoba | Spain | $1,690–2,360 |
| Coimbra | Portugal | $1,800–2,590 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Basel?
About $3,140–4,100 on a lean budget, $5,310–7,480 for a comfortable month and $9,650–15,080 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Basel?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs CHF1,800–2,800 ($2,170–3,380) a month in the center and CHF1,400–2,200 ($1,690–2,650) outside it.
How much does food cost in Basel?
A local meal is CHF15–24 ($18–29); a mid-range restaurant is CHF35–60 ($42–72) per person.
Is Switzerland expensive?
Prices in Switzerland are about 112% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Basel
Going to Basel solo?
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Basel Tourism
- BVB Basel Public Transport
- EuroAirport
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.