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🇨🇭 Cost of Living in Bern

How much you'll actually spend — not what travel blogs tell you

Monthly budget · Single · city center

$3,265/mo

Just you and your questionable life decisions

Rent(1BR)$1,960
Groceries & eating out$857
Transport$105
Utilities & phones$343
Average local salary (after tax)$7,429/mo

The real monthly damage

Rent — the biggest line item

1BR, city center$1,960/mo
1BR, outside center$1,453/mo
3BR, city center$3,584/mo
3BR, outside center$2,583/mo

Source: Numbeo. Prices in USD unless toggled.

Grocery prices — the supermarket reality check

Milk (1L)$2.29
Bread (loaf)$3.82
Eggs (12)$7.91
Rice (1kg)$4.12
Chicken (1kg)$31
Apples (1kg)$3.91
Tomatoes (1kg)$6.69
Potatoes (1kg)$2.13
Water (1.5L)$1.22
Wine (mid-range)$13
Beer (0.5L)$2.37

Eating out — because you won't cook every night

Cheap meal$29
Mid-range dinner for 2$128
Cappuccino$7.14
Beer (draught)$9.63
Coke (0.33L)$6.49

Getting around — or trying to

Monthly pass$105
Single ride$6.68
Taxi start$8.73
Taxi per km$4.88
Gasoline (1L)$2.34

30-day trial run

What a month-long scouting trip costs before you commit to anything permanent.

Short-term rental$2,940
Food (2 meals + coffee/day)$1,929
Transport (2 rides/day)$401
SIM card$30
Total 30 days$5,300

Bern vs. similar cities

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to live in Bern?

A single person can expect to spend about $3,265/month in Bern, including rent in the city center, groceries, transport, and utilities. Couples need roughly $4,258/month.

What is the average salary in Bern?

The average monthly net salary (after tax) in Bern is about $7,429, according to Numbeo data.

Is Bern expensive compared to other cities?

Compared to similar cities: Copenhagen ($3,034/mo), Basel ($3,535/mo), Stockholm ($2,849/mo), Rotterdam ($2,977/mo), Milan ($2,794/mo). Bern comes in at $3,265/mo for a single person.

Cost data sourced from Numbeo. Updated periodically.