Bern, Switzerland, Switzerland — cost of living
Wikipedia · Bern

Bern, Switzerland

Trust 47
Country
Switzerland
57
Relocation
Bern, Switzerland

About Bern, Switzerland

Costs exclude rent
Single / month
$1,481
Family of 4 / mo
$3,722
Avg salary (after tax)
$7,801

Bern, the capital of Switzerland , is a charming city known for its beautiful medieval architecture and stunning views of the Alps. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, filled with narrow cobblestone streets, lovely fountains, and impressive buildings like the Zytglogge clock tower. One of the highlights of Bern is the Bear Park, where you can see real bears in a natural habitat.

Data aggregated from public cost-of-living sources. See About for methodology.· Wikipedia · Bern· Updated May 22, 2026

Cost breakdown by category

Cost breakdown

Filters items shown below only — for a global search, use the bar in the header.

Fashion

  • Midrange Nike Running ShoesUSD $140.57
  • Summer Dress from Chain Stores (e.g., Zara, H&M)USD $43.4
  • Classic Jeans (e.g., Levi's 501)USD $130.23
  • Men's Dress ShoesUSD $178.3

Financial

  • Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed)USD $1.12
  • Average Monthly Salary After TaxUSD $6,927

Food - Beverages

  • CappuccinoUSD $5.98
  • Local Draft Beer (Pint)USD $8.37
  • Imported Beer (Small Bottle)USD $7.44
  • Soft Drinks (350 ml Bottle)USD $5.16
  • Bottled Water (350 ml)USD $4.75

Food - Dining

  • Casual Dining ExperienceUSD $31.01
  • Upscale Dinner for TwoUSD $124.03
  • Fast Food ComboUSD $18.6

Food - Grocery

  • Chicken Fillets (1 kg)USD $35.54
  • Beef Round (1 kg)USD $60.18
  • Apples (1 kg)USD $4.62
  • Bananas (1 kg)USD $3.51
  • Oranges (1 kg)USD $4.07
  • Tomatoes (1 kg)USD $4.98
  • Potatoes (1 kg)USD $2.85
  • Onions (1 kg)USD $2.64
  • Lettuce (1 Head)USD $2.51
  • Bottled Water (1.5L)USD $1.53
  • Midrange Bottle of WineUSD $16.13
  • Marlboro (20-Pack)USD $11.16
  • White Rice (1 kg)USD $3.44
  • Dozen EggsUSD $6.99
  • Local Cheese (1 kg)USD $30.77
  • Fresh White Bread (1 kg)USD $6.8
  • Milk (1 litre)USD $2.15

Housing

  • Average Rent of 3-Bedroom Apartment in City CenterUSD $2,756
  • Average Rent of 3-Bedroom Apartment Outside City CenterUSD $1,957
  • Average Cost per Square Foot for Apartments in City CenterUSD $1,107
  • Average Cost per Square Foot for Apartments Outside City CenterUSD $693.36
  • Average Rent of 1-Bedroom Apartment in City CenterUSD $1,535
  • Average Rent of 1-Bedroom Apartment Outside City CenterUSD $1,116

Leisure

  • Monthly Fee for Fitness Club Membership (1 Adult)USD $88.87
  • Monthly Fee for Private Kindergarten (1 Child)USD $2,654
  • Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend)USD $43.66
  • Cinema Ticket (International Release)USD $24.8
  • Yearly Cost for International Primary School (1 Child)USD $34,420

Transportation

  • 1 Hour Taxi WaitUSD $89.3
  • Average Price of a New Sedan CarUSD $51,878
  • One-Way Local Transport FareUSD $4.96
  • Average Rate to Start a Taxi RideUSD $8.43
  • Average Monthly Cost of Public Transport PassUSD $97.99
  • Average Taxi Fare for 1 kmUSD $7.99
  • Average Price of a New Compact Hatchback CarUSD $39,691

Utilities (Monthly)

  • Internet Service (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited)USD $65.61
  • Average Monthly Cost for Essential Utilities in a 915 sq. ft. ApartmentUSD $327.75

Costs reflect a typical lifestyle in each place, excluding rent unless stated. Numbers are a starting point — always cross-check before big decisions.

  • Single / Family of 4 toggle. Family ≈ 2.7× single when no verified figure exists.
  • Estimated values use a ~ prefix and an "Estimated" label.
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How we calculate these numbers

When local data is missing (e.g. salary for a smaller city), we estimate from peer cities in the same country using a median ratio.

Full methodology, assumptions, and formulas live on our About page.