Cost of living comparison
Biel is 1.8% cheaper than Switzerland overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 10.7% less in Biel
- Groceries
-
pay 4.1% less in Biel
- Transportation
-
pay 6.0% less in Biel
- Housing
-
pay 10.4% less in Biel
- Childcare
-
pay 17.0% more in Biel
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 0.8% more in Biel
- Clothing
-
pay 0.6% more in Biel
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, and clothing in Biel are more expensive than in Switzerland. Expenses including restaurants, housing, transportation, and groceries are lower in Biel.
If you lived in Biel instead of Switzerland, you would:
pay 10.7% less for restaurants
|
Switzerland
|
Biel
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$27.66
CHF23.18
|
$22.81
CHF19.11
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$16.97
CHF14.21
|
$14.83
CHF12.42
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$4.67
CHF3.92
|
$4.56
CHF3.82
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$4.13
CHF3.46
|
$3.71
CHF3.11
|
|
pay 4.1% less for groceries
|
Switzerland
|
Biel
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.64
CHF3.05
|
$2.90
CHF2.43
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$13.22
CHF11.08
|
$14.42
CHF12.08
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.31
CHF6.13
|
$7.77
CHF6.51
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$6.80
CHF5.69
|
$6.54
CHF5.48
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$12.89
CHF10.80
|
$15.26
CHF12.79
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.52
CHF1.27
|
$1.52
CHF1.28
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.03
CHF0.86
|
$0.95
CHF0.79
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.31
CHF1.10
|
$1.19
CHF1.00
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.85
CHF2.39
|
$2.07
CHF1.73
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.12
CHF0.94
|
$1.03
CHF0.86
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.07
CHF0.90
|
$1.03
CHF0.87
|
|
pay 6.0% less for transportation
|
Switzerland
|
Biel
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.83
CHF6.56
|
$7.82
CHF6.55
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$114.11
CHF95.61
|
$102.65
CHF86.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,806.66
CHF30,838.27
|
$28,512.58
CHF23,889.12
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$42.03
CHF35.22
|
$45.62
CHF38.22
|
|
pay 10.4% less for housing
|
Switzerland
|
Biel
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.46
CHF44.79
|
$53.76
CHF45.04
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,622.75
CHF1,359.61
|
$1,368.60
CHF1,146.68
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,411.84
CHF1,182.90
|
$1,077.78
CHF903.01
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$180.02
CHF150.83
|
$174.69
CHF146.37
|
|
pay 17.0% more for childcare
|
Switzerland
|
Biel
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,587.05
CHF2,167.55
|
$2,680.18
CHF2,245.58
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$30,321.56
CHF25,404.77
|
$39,537.44
CHF33,126.25
|
|
pay 0.8% more for entertainment and sports
|
Switzerland
|
Biel
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.82
CHF6.56
|
$6.56
CHF5.49
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.42
CHF4.54
|
$5.47
CHF4.59
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.09
CHF8.46
|
$10.26
CHF8.60
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$88.49
CHF74.14
|
$106.45
CHF89.19
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$21.15
CHF17.72
|
$20.53
CHF17.20
|
|
pay 0.6% more for clothing
|
Switzerland
|
Biel
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$121.70
CHF101.96
|
$134.01
CHF112.28
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$61.65
CHF51.66
|
$71.28
CHF59.72
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$136.06
CHF114.00
|
$126.60
CHF106.07
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$176.75
CHF148.09
|
$148.27
CHF124.22
|
|
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