📅 Last updated: 2026-02-24

Cost of Living in Thun for a Single Professional (2026) – Salary, Rent, Taxes & Savings

Thun, gateway to the Bernese Oberland, offers professionals stunning Alpine access with affordable living. This assessment calculates your expected monthly expenses in this lakeside town near Bern. Popular for outdoor enthusiasts, Thun combines Swiss quality with lower costs than major cities. Our calculator estimates rent, Canton Bern taxes, health insurance, and daily costs.

With a gross salary of CHF 10’000, a single professional in Thun can expect to save CHF 3’932–CHF 5’132 per month, placing them above the Swiss urban comfort threshold.
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Real calculator output for a single professional in Thun

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

📍 Thun 👤 Single Professional 💰 CHF 10’000/month
In Thun, fixed costs consume approximately 26% of a single professional's gross income, which is 1% lower than the Swiss average of ~27% (using Swiss Average as a reference baseline).
Gross Salary
CHF 10’000
Monthly income
Base salary input
Estimated Taxes
CHF 2’300 – CHF 3’500
23% – 35% rate
Derived from Bern cantonal logic
Housing
CHF 1’120
City center rent
Based on Thun rental index
Health Insurance
CHF 380
Mandatory coverage
Bern cantonal premium baseline
Living Costs
CHF 1’068
Food, transport, lifestyle
Weighted by local indices
Monthly Savings
CHF 3’932 – CHF 5’132
After all expenses
Net of taxes and costs
Taxes and Housing together account for approximately 73% of total costs in Thun. Moving to a lower-tax canton like Zug could increase monthly savings by CHF 355.
For a single professional in Thun, taxes represents the largest monthly expense at CHF 2’900, followed by housing at CHF 1’120. Canton Bern's high tax rates and affordable housing market create this cost structure.
Category Monthly Amount Context
Gross Monthly Salary CHF 10’000 Base salary input for single
Taxes (cantonal & federal) −CHF 2’300to−CHF 3’500 Canton Bern: 23%–35% rate
Rent (city center) −CHF 1’120 Thun market rate (1-bedroom)
Health Insurance −CHF 380 Bern base premium
Food & Groceries −CHF 356 Local price index × 1 occupants
Transport −CHF 72 Thun public transport pass
Utilities −CHF 150 Adjusted for 1 occupants
Lifestyle −CHF 490 Medium tier × Thun multiplier
Estimated Monthly Savings CHF 3’932toCHF 5’132 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.

Example Scenario: A professional earning CHF 10’000/month in Thun retains approximately CHF 3’932–5’132 after all expenses. The same salary in Zürich would retain CHF 3’194–4’194 — Thun offers CHF 838/month more (CHF 10’056/year).

Why Thun Is More or Less Expensive Than Other Swiss Cities

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

Compared to Bern, Thun offers approximately CHF 401 higher monthly savings at the same gross salary. Compared to Lucerne, housing is lower but overall savings remain competitive.

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Tax Rates

For professionals weighing Thun against Swiss Average, Swiss Average offers lower taxes by approximately CHF 375/month. However, Thun may compensate through other factors like housing or lifestyle costs.

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Housing Market

Thun vs Swiss Average housing: Thun enables CHF 158/month in housing savings compared to Swiss Average. This positions singles to save more while maintaining urban convenience.

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Health Insurance

Canton Bern vs Swiss Average: lower premiums than Swiss Average (CHF 380 vs CHF 383 base). Selecting the right plan tier within the canton structure directly impacts monthly budget.

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Living Costs

Thun vs Swiss average: lower food costs than Swiss Average (99% 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

Thun vs Swiss Average: slightly higher transport costs than Swiss Average (CHF 72 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

Thun vs Swiss Average: lower entertainment costs than Swiss Average (0.98× vs 1.02× multiplier). Professionals choosing Swiss Average for savings can reallocate CHF 205/month toward lifestyle upgrades or accelerated wealth building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Thun is affordable by Swiss standards. A single earning CHF 10,000 can expect CHF 4,700-5,400 in monthly savings.
Single professionals spend CHF 4,200-4,800 monthly: taxes (CHF 2,300-3,500), rent (CHF 1,120), health insurance (CHF 380), and living costs (CHF 800).
A gross salary of CHF 7,000-9,000 monthly provides comfortable savings of CHF 3,500-5,500.
Thun uses Canton Bern rates at 23-38% depending on income—moderate by Swiss standards.
Yes. Rent is CHF 300-500 lower and overall costs are 10-15% less, with 20-minute access to Bern.

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