Cost Of Living For a Family in Basel 2025

Average monthly spending for families in Basel

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Basel?

Families in Basel spend around 9,600 CHF per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 3,400 CHF or as high as 62,000 CHF. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Basel

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Basel

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Basel spend around 85% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 75% of their income while some as high as 96%.

How do families spend their money in Basel?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Basel typically spend from 23% to 38% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 28% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 3,100 CHF with expenditure ranging from 1,100 CHF to 20,000 CHF. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Basel ranges from 2% to 7% of total expenses with 4% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 480 CHF with 170 CHF and 3,100 CHF being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 340 CHF to 6,200 CHF in a month on commuting with 960 CHF being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 6% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 8%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Basel is 1,700 CHF. The cost of groceries can range between 600 CHF to 11,000 CHF. Families spend on average about 20% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 13% and 26% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Basel allocate 6% to 15% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 300 CHF to 5,000 CHF with 960 CHF being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 170 CHF to 3,100 CHF with 480 CHF being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 14% of the monthly expenditure of families with 7% and 22% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,300 CHF per month with 470 CHF being the minimum spent amount and 8,700 CHF being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Basel are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 66% of surveyed families in Basel said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 34% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 14% to 33% of their monthly income to their savings, with 23% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 4,100 CHF with 1,400 CHF and 27,000 CHF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Basel

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Basel. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 17% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 10% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 10% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 7% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 17% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 11% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Basel

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Basel

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Basel?

Around 86% of surveyed families think that living in Basel is affordable with proper budgeting while 14% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Basel

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options66%

Few low-cost options34%

Based on the survey, 66% of the families living in Basel have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 34% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Basel whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes86%

No14%

Based on the survey, 14% of the families living in Basel said that they don't have an emergency fund while 86% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Switzerland

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy80%

We asked family guardians and parents in Basel whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 20% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 80% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Switzerland have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 10% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 90% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance10%

Easily manages finances90%

Financial goals of families in Basel

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Basel, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 34% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 8% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 8% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 10% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 10% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Basel

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 20% of the families in Basel have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 80% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Basel

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 25% of a family's monthly income in Basel goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Basel pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 12% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 12% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 14% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 14% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Basel

12% of debtors in Basel confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 26% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 21% of people and personal loans rose at 37%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Basel.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Basel

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Basel how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Basel

Rent Cost in Basel

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

570 CHF

860 CHF

2,300 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$640

$970

$2,600

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

860 CHF

1,400 CHF

3,400 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$970

$1,500

$3,900

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,100 CHF

1,700 CHF

4,600 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,300

$1,900

$5,200

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,400 CHF

2,300 CHF

6,200 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,500

$2,600

$7,000

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

2,700 CHF

6,900 CHF

14,000 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3,100

$7,700

$15,000

Townhouse monthly rent cost

2,300 CHF

3,400 CHF

9,800 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,600

$3,900

$11,000

House monthly rent cost

2,700 CHF

6,900 CHF

14,000 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3,100

$7,700

$15,000

Villa monthly rent cost

3,400 CHF

8,600 CHF

14,000 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3,900

$9,700

$15,000

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Basel ranges between 570 CHF and 2,300 CHF, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 860 CHF to 3,400 CHF. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,100 CHF and 4,600 CHF per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1,400 CHF to 6,200 CHF. The average rent of a townhouse in Basel is around 3,400 CHF while house rental costs can be as high as 6,900 CHF per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 3,400 CHF to 14,000 CHF per month.

Apartment and house prices in Basel

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

110,000 CHF

170,000 CHF

340,000 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130,000

$190,000

$390,000

1-bedroom apartment price

140,000 CHF

230,000 CHF

860,000 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150,000

$260,000

$970,000

2-bedroom apartment price

230,000 CHF

690,000 CHF

1.4M CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$260,000

$770,000

$1.5M

3-bedroom apartment price

760,000 CHF

1.1M CHF

3.4M CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$860,000

$1.3M

$3.9M

Townhouse price

980,000 CHF

2.3M CHF

8.6M CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1M

$2.6M

$9.7M

House price

1.1M CHF

6.9M CHF

9.8M CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.3M

$7.7M

$11M

Villa price

1.4M CHF

7.6M CHF

11M CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5M

$8.6M

$13M

The average price of a studio apartment in Basel can range from 110,000 CHF to 340,000 CHF depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 140,000 CHF to 860,000 CHF. A villa can cost you 7.6M CHF on average with prices ranging from 1.4M CHF to 11M CHF.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Basel can be x152 to x233 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x152 multiples of the average monthly salary in Basel.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Basel is around 36%. This means that people pay 36% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 25% to 46% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Basel

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Basel

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

170 CHF

480 CHF

3,100 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190

$540

$3,500

Internet and cable cost

32 CHF

64 CHF

86 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$36

$73

$97

Mobile phone bill and charges

26 CHF

43 CHF

130 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$29

$49

$150

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 480 CHF. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 32 CHF to 86 CHF with 64 CHF being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 43 CHF but can range between 26 CHF and 130 CHF depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Basel is around 4.1%. This means that people pay 4.1% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1% to 8.1% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Basel

Prices and cost of goods and services in Basel

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

6.4 CHF

13 CHF

21 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.3

$15

$24

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Basel is approximatly 13 CHF with meal cost ranging from 6.4 CHF to 21 CHF. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

22 CHF

33 CHF

66 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$25

$38

$75

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 22 CHF and 66 CHF with 33 CHF being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Basel.

Fine dining meal for one price

44 CHF

66 CHF

270 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$50

$75

$300

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 44 CHF to 270 CHF with the average cost being 66 CHF for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Basel.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

5.4 CHF

8.6 CHF

13 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.1

$9.7

$15

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Basel is around 8.6 CHF. Price ranges between 5.4 CHF and 13 CHF depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

4.3 CHF

5.2 CHF

6.4 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.9

$5.8

$7.3

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Basel is 5.2 CHF. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 6.4 CHF and the minimum being 4.3 CHF depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

3.2 CHF

4.3 CHF

6.4 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.6

$4.9

$7.3

A dozen eggs costs around 4.3 CHF on average with 3.2 CHF and 6.4 CHF being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

7.3 CHF

9.5 CHF

13 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.3

$11

$15

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Basel is between 7.3 CHF and 13 CHF depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 9.5 CHF.

Pack of beef price

8.6 CHF

13 CHF

26 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9.7

$15

$29

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 13 CHF. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

3.5 CHF

4.7 CHF

6.7 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.9

$5.3

$7.6

A bag of rice in Basel costs around 4.7 CHF on average with prices rangeing between 3.5 CHF and 6.7 CHF depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

1.3 CHF

1.7 CHF

3.2 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$1.9

$3.6

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.3 CHF to 3.2 CHF. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

2.3 CHF

3 CHF

5 CHF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.6

$3.4

$5.6

A bag of apples costs 3 CHF on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Basel is around 24%. This means that families spend 24% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 16% to 31% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families