Bern vs Fribourg
In short: taxes are lower in Fribourg, rent is cheaper in Bern and the health premium is lower in Fribourg. All metrics in detail:
| Metric | Bern | Fribourg | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income tax (single, 80k) | CHF 11'666 | CHF 11'433 | ESTV · 2026 |
| Rent (avg) | CHF 1'319 | CHF 1'328 | BFS Strukturerhebung · 2024 |
| Health premium, standard model (adult) | CHF 644.5 | CHF 609.2 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Lowest health premium (adult) | CHF 401.26 | CHF 363.86 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Average health premium (adult) | CHF 494.42 | CHF 465.48 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Health premium saving potential (adult) | CHF 93.16 | CHF 101.62 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Premium subsidy recipients | 25.6% | 27.1% | BAG KVSTAT T 4.02 · 2025 |
| Premium subsidy per recipient | CHF 2'447 | CHF 2'456 | BAG KVSTAT T 4.08 · 2025 |
| Premium subsidy as share of premium | 53.1% | 57.5% | BAG KVSTAT T 4.08 · 2025 |
| Electricity price | 27.95 | 26.48 | ElCom · 2027 |
| Offences (per 1,000) | 68.58 | 45.49 | BFS PKS · 2024 |
| Violent offences (per 1,000) | 4.31 | 4.3 | BFS PKS · 2025 |
| Vacancy rate | 1.12% | 1.11% | BFS LWZ · 2025 |
| New dwellings (per 1,000) | 2.42 | 6.22 | BFS Bau- und Wohnbaustatistik · 2024 |
| Sunshine | 1'781.9 h | 2'003.5 h | MeteoSwiss · 2025 |
| Jobs | 677'492 | 167'232 | BFS STATENT · 2024 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.2% | 2.6% | SECO amstat · 2026 |
| Cross-border commuters (share of jobs) | 0.7% | 1.05% | BFS GGS/STATENT · 2024 |
| Median net income | CHF 52'950 | CHF 54'736.5 | ESTV dBSt · 2022 |
| Naturalisations (per 1,000 foreigners) | 17.4 | 11 | BFS/SEM Einbürgerungsstatistik · 2025 |
| Population growth | 0.46% | 1.22% | BFS Demografische Bilanz · 2025 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 8.12 | 9.35 | BFS BEVNAT · 2025 |
| Net migration (per 1,000) | 5.59‰ | 9.32‰ | BFS Demografische Bilanz · 2025 |
| Foreign residents | 18.6% | 25.81% | BFS STATPOP · 2025 |
| Fiscal balance per capita | −CHF 169 | −CHF 102 | EFV FS-Modell · 2024 |
| Cantonal net debt per capita | CHF 5'099 | −CHF 810 | EFV Finanzstatistik · 2024 |
| Hospital beds (per 1,000) | 4.55 | 2.62 | BFS Krankenhausstatistik · 2024 |
| Cars per 1,000 residents | 514.76 | 571.23 | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Electric share of car fleet | 3.59% | 4.1% | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Electric share of new cars | 21.79% | 15.82% | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Motorbikes per 1,000 residents | 92.85 | 80.82 | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Goods vehicles per 1,000 residents | 58.97 | 53.84 | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Gigabit broadband availability | 75.7% | 70.7% | BAKOM Breitbandatlas · 2026 |
| Public-transport accessibility (ARE index) | 3'486 | 1'565.3 | ARE Erreichbarkeit · 2017 |
| Solar power per resident | 995.1 | 1'390.3 | BFE Pronovo register · 2026 |
| Population in Energiestadt communes | 50.7% | 64% | BFE Energiestadt · 2025 |
| Organic farmland share | 15.21% | 9.65% | BFS Landwirtschaftsstatistik · 2025 |
| Municipal waste per resident | 292.41 | 243.11 | BFS Cercle Indicateurs · 2023 |
| Separately collected waste share | 30.82% | 40.1% | BFS Cercle Indicateurs · 2023 |
Frequently asked questions
Where are taxes lower: Bern or Fribourg?
In the canton of Fribourg (CHF 11'433 per year).
Where is rent cheaper: Bern or Fribourg?
In the canton of Bern (CHF 1'319 per month).