📅 Last updated: 2026-02-24

Cost of Living in Fribourg for a Family (2026) – Salary, Rent, Taxes & Savings

Fribourg offers families affordable bilingual living with excellent schools. This assessment calculates family expenses including children's health insurance, larger apartments, and activities. With both French and German-speaking schools, Fribourg is ideal for multilingual families.

With a gross salary of CHF 18’000, a family in Fribourg can expect to save CHF 6’463–CHF 8’443 per month, placing them above the Swiss urban comfort threshold.
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Real calculator output for a family in Fribourg

Based on real Swiss cantonal tax logic, housing indices, and mandatory health insurance baselines.

📍 Fribourg 👤 Family 💰 CHF 18’000/month
In Fribourg, fixed costs consume approximately 29% of a family's gross income, which is 2% higher than the Swiss average of ~27% (using Swiss Average as a reference baseline).
Gross Salary
CHF 18’000
Monthly income
Base salary input
Estimated Taxes
CHF 4’410 – CHF 6’390
25% – 36% rate
Derived from Fribourg cantonal logic
Housing
CHF 2’015
City center rent
Based on Fribourg rental index
Health Insurance
CHF 931
Mandatory coverage
Fribourg cantonal premium baseline
Living Costs
CHF 2’201
Food, transport, lifestyle
Weighted by local indices
Monthly Savings
CHF 6’463 – CHF 8’443
After all expenses
Net of taxes and costs
Taxes and Housing together account for approximately 70% of total costs in Fribourg.
For a family in Fribourg, taxes represents the largest monthly expense at CHF 5’400, followed by housing at CHF 2’015. Canton Fribourg's high tax rates and competitive housing market create this cost structure.
Category Monthly Amount Context
Gross Monthly Salary CHF 18’000 Base salary input for family
Taxes (cantonal & federal) −CHF 4’410to−CHF 6’390 Canton Fribourg: 25%–36% rate
Rent (city center) −CHF 2’015 Fribourg market rate (3+ bedroom)
Health Insurance −CHF 931 Fribourg base premium (includes child premiums)
Food & Groceries −CHF 917 Local price index × 3 occupants
Transport −CHF 68 Fribourg public transport pass
Utilities −CHF 195 Adjusted for 3 occupants
Lifestyle −CHF 1’021 Medium tier × Fribourg multiplier
Estimated Monthly Savings CHF 6’463toCHF 8’443 Net after all deductions

Small changes in rent or tax canton can shift monthly savings by several hundred CHF.

⚠️ Note: These estimates are derived from cantonal tax logic, local housing indices, and health insurance baseline models. Your actual costs depend on specific deductions, insurance choices, and lifestyle. Use our calculator for a personalized assessment with your exact inputs.

Why Professionals Choose Fribourg

Example Scenario: A professional earning CHF 18’000/month in Fribourg retains approximately CHF 6’463–8’443 after all expenses. The same salary in Zürich would retain CHF 4’614–6’414 — Fribourg offers CHF 1’939/month more (CHF 23’268/year).

Why Fribourg Is More or Less Expensive Than Other Swiss Cities

Understanding what makes Fribourg unique helps you evaluate if it's the right fit for your relocation.

Compared to Bern, Fribourg offers approximately CHF 982 higher monthly savings at the same gross salary. Compared to Lausanne, housing is lower but overall savings remain stronger.

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Tax Rates

For professionals weighing Fribourg against Swiss Average, Swiss Average offers lower taxes by approximately CHF 855/month. However, Fribourg may compensate through other factors like housing or lifestyle costs.

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Housing Market

Fribourg vs Swiss Average housing: Fribourg requires CHF 737/month more for housing than Swiss Average. Families should weigh this against school quality and neighborhood amenities.

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Health Insurance

Canton Fribourg vs Swiss Average: higher premiums than Swiss Average (CHF 410 vs CHF 383 base). Families pay adult premiums plus reduced child rates, multiplying the impact. Choose cantons with lower base premiums to optimize household costs.

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Living Costs

Fribourg vs Swiss average: lower food costs than Swiss Average (98% vs 101% of baseline). While individual purchases differ modestly, cumulative grocery and dining expenses add CHF 50–150/month variance between Swiss cities.

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Transport

Fribourg vs Swiss Average: slightly higher transport costs than Swiss Average (CHF 68 vs CHF 67). With excellent Swiss public transit, most professionals avoid car ownership—a decision that saves CHF 500–800/month versus driving.

Lifestyle & Entertainment

Fribourg vs Swiss Average: lower entertainment costs than Swiss Average (0.95× vs 1.02× multiplier). Professionals choosing Fribourg for savings can reallocate CHF 2716/month toward lifestyle upgrades or accelerated wealth building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fribourg is affordable by Swiss standards. A 4-room apartment costs CHF 1,700-2,100.
Families earning CHF 18,000 combined spend approximately CHF 8,500-10,500 monthly, leaving CHF 7,500-9,500 in savings.
A combined gross of CHF 14,000-18,000 provides savings of CHF 6,000-9,000 monthly.
Excellent. Schools operate in French or German, with bilingual programs available—ideal for multilingual development.
Very. The medieval old town, university atmosphere, and safe neighborhoods make it excellent for families.

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