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Municipal profile

Coat of arms of Bern

Bern

Canton: Bern (BE)

Civiora Index

Derived from official data

37/100

Below the median

National rank: 1’883 / 2’110

Taxes26/100
Premiums21/100
Electricity13/100
Housing30/100
PT service94/100

Confidence level: high · v1.1.0 · Civiora Index computed from official public data. Proprietary, non-official index. Understand the index

Median altitude556 m
Area51.6 km²
Postcode3004
FSO no.351
DistrictVerwaltungskreis Bern-Mittelland
Tax burden14.6 %Single, CHF 80’000 · 2026 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 13.1 %
Electricity price31.1 ct./kWhH4 · 2027 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.9 ct./kWh
Health insurance premiums700 CHF/monthAdult · 2027 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF
Population138’562+2.8 % over 5 years (2020–2025) less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: +4.4 %
Vacancy rate0.42 %01.06.2026 less than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 0.83 %
Public transport stops202At least one rail stop

Taxes: tax burden by scenario

Tax burden ranking →Official

On a salary of CHF 80’000 a year, a single person in Bern pays 14.6% of their gross income in tax, or about CHF 11’660 a year. That is CHF 1’180 more than in the median Swiss municipality.

BernSwiss median
Single, CHF 80’000 approx. 11’660 CHF/year1’180 CHF/year more
14.6 %
13.1 %
Single, CHF 120’000 approx. 21’660 CHF/year960 CHF/year more
18.1 %
17.2 %
Married couple, CHF 120’000 approx. 16’480 CHF/year3’010 CHF/year more
13.7 %
11.2 %
Family, 2 children, CHF 150’000 approx. 18’320 CHF/year3’410 CHF/year more
12.2 %
9.9 %
Retiree, CHF 80’000 approx. 14’060 CHF/year1’070 CHF/year more
17.6 %
16.2 %

2026 tax burden in % of gross income (federal, cantonal and communal taxes; earned income, no wealth, no church tax). Calculation FTA, Swiss tax calculator.

Federal Tax Administration (FTA)Tax burden 2026: Swiss tax calculator (model cases)View source

Electricity

2027 tariff ranking →Official

A typical household (profile H4, 4’500 kWh a year) in Bern pays 31.11 ct. per kWh, or about CHF 1’400 a year. That is CHF 189 a year more than in the median Swiss municipality.

31.11 ct./kWh

more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.91 ct./kWh

Tariff breakdown

Energy (the electricity itself) 10.75Grid (delivery to the meter) 13.45Levies and surcharge (public charges and levies) 6.91ct./kWh

Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom)Electricity tariffs 2027, profile H4, standard productView source

Health insurance premiums

2027 premium ranking →Derived from official data

An adult in Bern pays a median CHF 700 a month for basic health insurance, or about CHF 8’400 a year (CHF 300 deductible, accident cover included). That is CHF 101 a month more than the Swiss median (CHF 599).

700 CHF/month

more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF

Median monthly premium 2027, adult (26+), CHF 300 deductible, with accident, standard model: median of the 26 offers in premium region BE-1 (Civiora calculation on FOPH data).

Official FOPH average premiums 2027 (all deductibles and models)

Adult531.20 CHF/monthapprox. 6’370 CHF/year
19–25 years368.50 CHF/monthapprox. 4’420 CHF/year
Child137.10 CHF/monthapprox. 1’650 CHF/year

Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)Compulsory health insurance premiums 2027 (priminfo)View source

Population and demographics

Official

Bern has 138’562 inhabitants at the end of 2025, 2.8% more than five years ago (Swiss median: +4.4%).

Population change 2010–2025

138’562 inhabitants

Density: 2’684 inhab./km² · 2025

+0.4 % vs previous year (2024–2025)

Age structure (2025)

0–19 years 17.2 %20–64 years 65.5 %65 and over 17.3 %

About 1 resident in 6 is under 20, and 1 in 6 is 65 or over. About 1 resident in 4 (25.9%) holds a foreign nationality.

Federal Statistical Office (FSO)STATPOP: permanent resident population (STAT-TAB), status 31.12.2025View source

Housing

Vacancy rate ranking →Official

On 1 June 2026, 0.42% of homes in Bern were vacant, about 1 in 238 (Swiss median: 0.83%). The higher this rate, the easier it is to find a home.

Vacancy rate 2016–2026

Vacant dwellings35101.06.2026
Housing stock (2024)82’242

Federal Statistical Office (FSO)Vacant dwellings count, 1 June 2026View source

Federal Statistical Office (FSO)Buildings and dwellings statistics (GWS): housing stock 2024View source

Public transport

Derived from official data

Bern has 202 public transport stops. On an ordinary Tuesday, 70’553 departures are scheduled across all stops, 9’848 of them after 8 pm.

Public transport stops202At least one rail stop
Departures on a typical Tuesday70’553of which evening (from 8 pm): 9’848 (14 %)
Departures on a typical Sunday47’02167 % of the typical Tuesday
Public transport stops / 1’0001.46Swiss median: 3.33

Departures counted in the official 2026 timetable (GTFS) on typical days: Tuesday 08.09.2026 and Sunday 13.09.2026. Every call at every stop in the municipality counts as one departure. Civiora calculation.

opentransportdata.swiss (ATLAS, SBB on behalf of the Confederation)Public transport service points, status 04.08.2026View source

opentransportdata.swiss (official GTFS timetable)2026 timetable (GTFS, 01.08.2026 edition): typical daysView source

Territory and local economy

Official

Bern’s territory is 45.0% built-up, 19.0% farmland and 33.6% forest (survey 2004/2009).

Built-up 45.0 %Farmland 19.0 %Forest 33.6 %Other (water, rock…) 2.4 %
Jobs188’252reference year 2018
Establishments14’615reference year 2018
Social assistance rate5.0 %reference year 2019

Federal Statistical Office (FSO)Regional portraits 2021: key figures of communesView source