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Municipal profile

Coat of arms of Biel/Bienne

Biel/Bienne

Canton: Bern (BE)

Civiora Index

Derived from official data

42/100

Below the median

National rank: 1’652 / 2’110

Taxes19/100
Premiums21/100
Electricity14/100
Housing73/100
PT service97/100

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

Median altitude478 m
Area21.2 km²
Postcode2502
FSO no.371
DistrictVerwaltungskreis Biel/Bienne
Tax burden14.8 %Single, CHF 80’000 · 2026 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 13.1 %
Electricity price31.0 ct./kWhH4 · 2027 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.9 ct./kWh
Health insurance premiums700 CHF/monthAdult · 2027 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 599 CHF
Population57’462+4.1 % over 5 years (2020–2025) in line with SwitzerlandSwiss median: +4.4 %
Vacancy rate1.42 %01.06.2026 more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 0.83 %
Public transport stops125At 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 Biel/Bienne pays 14.8% of their gross income in tax, or about CHF 11’880 a year. That is CHF 1’390 more than in the median Swiss municipality.

Biel/BienneSwiss median
Single, CHF 80’000 approx. 11’880 CHF/year1’390 CHF/year more
14.8 %
13.1 %
Single, CHF 120’000 approx. 22’030 CHF/year1’330 CHF/year more
18.4 %
17.2 %
Married couple, CHF 120’000 approx. 16’780 CHF/year3’310 CHF/year more
14.0 %
11.2 %
Family, 2 children, CHF 150’000 approx. 18’640 CHF/year3’740 CHF/year more
12.4 %
9.9 %
Retiree, CHF 80’000 approx. 14’310 CHF/year1’330 CHF/year more
17.9 %
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 Biel/Bienne pays 30.96 ct. per kWh, or about CHF 1’390 a year. That is CHF 182 a year more than in the median Swiss municipality.

30.96 ct./kWh

more than SwitzerlandSwiss median: 26.91 ct./kWh

Tariff breakdown

Energy (the electricity itself) 12.65Grid (delivery to the meter) 12.17Levies and surcharge (public charges and levies) 6.14ct./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 Biel/Bienne 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

Biel/Bienne has 57’462 inhabitants at the end of 2025, 4.1% more than five years ago (Swiss median: +4.4%).

Population change 2010–2025

57’462 inhabitants

Density: 2’712 inhab./km² · 2025

+1.0 % vs previous year (2024–2025)

Age structure (2025)

0–19 years 19.3 %20–64 years 62.1 %65 and over 18.6 %

About 1 resident in 5 is under 20, and 1 in 5 is 65 or over. About 4 in 10 residents (35.2%) hold 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, 1.42% of homes in Biel/Bienne were vacant, about 1 in 70 (Swiss median: 0.83%). The higher this rate, the easier it is to find a home.

Vacancy rate 2016–2026

Vacant dwellings46401.06.2026
Housing stock (2024)32’298

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

Biel/Bienne has 125 public transport stops. On an ordinary Tuesday, 29’517 departures are scheduled across all stops, 4’444 of them after 8 pm.

Public transport stops125At least one rail stop
Departures on a typical Tuesday29’517of which evening (from 8 pm): 4’444 (15 %)
Departures on a typical Sunday22’19575 % of the typical Tuesday
Public transport stops / 1’0002.18Swiss 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

Biel/Bienne’s territory is 45.5% built-up, 7.9% farmland and 45.4% forest (survey 2004/2009).

Built-up 45.5 %Farmland 7.9 %Forest 45.4 %Other (water, rock…) 1.2 %
Jobs41’468reference year 2018
Establishments4’437reference year 2018
Social assistance rate10.7 %reference year 2019

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