An offer in Basel: is it worth accepting?
Disposable income today
CHF 5’423
Disposable income with the offer
CHF 5’244
Difference each month
−CHF 179
−CHF 2’154 a year
Salary needed to keep today’s disposable income
CHF 123’100
CHF 3’100 more than offered
Key findings
- With the offer, disposable income falls by CHF 179 a month (CHF 2’154 a year), although the salary is higher.
- To keep today’s disposable income, the salary in Basel would need to be CHF 123’100: CHF 3’100 more than offered.
- Health insurance for the family would cost CHF 246 more a month in Basel-Stadt.
- Of the cantons around Basel, Aargau gives the highest disposable income with this offer: CHF 5’745 a month.
My finances
Where the salary goes, per month
Today and the offer, line by line
Today: Aargau, leftOffer: Basel-Stadt, right
Gross salary per month
CHF 9’583CHF 10’000Offer: CHF 417 more
Social insurance
CHF 881CHF 908Today: CHF 27 less
Income tax (estimate)*
CHF 648CHF 933Today: CHF 285 less
Typical rent, 3–4 rooms
CHF 1’554CHF 1’593Today: CHF 39 less
Health insurance (average)
CHF 1’051CHF 1’296Today: CHF 245 less
Disposable income per month*
CHF 5’423CHF 5’244Today: CHF 179 more
My options
Offers compared with today (disposable income per month)
- Today: AargauCHF 5’423
- Basel-Stadt, CHF 120’000CHF 5’244−CHF 179
- Zurich, CHF 125’000CHF 5’667+CHF 244
Up to five offers or cantons side by side; here two. Disposable income per month, with the difference to today.
Municipalities compared with the offer of CHF 120’000 (disposable income per month)
- AargauCHF 5’745
- SolothurnCHF 5’570
- Basel-LandschaftCHF 5’254
- Basel-StadtCHF 5’244
The cantons within reach of Basel. Commuting time and costs are not included; income tax is estimated for each cantonal capital.
Negotiating the offer
Offered salary
CHF 120’000
Salary needed to keep today’s disposable income
CHF 123’100
One-off costs of the move (example)
CHF 7’779
Rent deposit of three months’ typical rent (CHF 4’779) and moving costs (CHF 3’000, an example figure).
As offered, the move does not pay for itself: disposable income would fall each month, and the one-off costs come on top.
Points to negotiate besides the salary: a relocation allowance for the one-off costs, the start date, and temporary housing for the first weeks.
My move
2 of 9 steps done
Moving day: 1 Apr 2027
Accept the offer and sign the contract (done)
Before giving notice on the current flat, so that the dates fit together.
by 15 Dec 2026
Give notice on the current flat (done)
Usually three months before one of the local termination dates (Art. 266c CO); check the dates in your lease.
by 31 Dec 2026
Find a flat in Basel-Stadt (open)
New leases are usually higher than the average of all leases used in the estimate.
by 1 Feb 2027
Apply for childcare and register for school (open)
With the new commune; ask about waiting lists and subsidies.
by 1 Feb 2027
Deregister in the old commune (open)
Before you move; the new commune will ask for the confirmation.
by 31 Mar 2027
Report the new address to the health insurer (open)
Premiums depend on the premium region and change from the date of the move.
by 31 Mar 2027
Register in Basel within 14 days (open)
Bring your ID, the lease and the confirmation from the old commune.
by 15 Apr 2027
Give the new address to your employer and others (open)
Payroll, bank, insurers and Swiss Post (forwarding).
by 15 Apr 2027
Tax: Basel-Stadt taxes the whole year (open)
For a move between cantons, the canton where you live on 31 December taxes the whole tax year (Art. 68 StHG).
by 31 Dec 2027
Example timetable for a move on 1 Apr 2027. In the Report, the dates follow your own move, with a calendar file for each date.
My family
Health insurance for the family (per month, average)
- AargauCHF 1’051
- Basel-StadtCHF 1’296+CHF 246
Average premiums 2027 for two adults and one child, including the deductibles and models people choose (FOPH).
Childcare, if needed
CHF 1’127 a month
2 days a week at an example rate of CHF 130 a day, before subsidies. Subsidies depend on income and the commune.
Partner and children
- SchoolRegister with the new commune. Kindergarten usually starts around the fourth birthday.
- LanguageNot needed for this move: Basel and Aargau are both German-speaking. For a move to another language region, the family version of the Report shows a course route near where you would live.
- QualificationsNot needed for a move within Switzerland. For a partner arriving from abroad, the family version of the Report explains when recognition is needed and which office decides; your partner makes the application.
Your own offer, assessed like this
The Offer Decision Report builds this from your own offer, contract and family: CHF 79 as a single payment (family version CHF 99), with the first year of Swiss Year Planner included. Not available yet.
Figures: social insurance 2026, income tax estimate for the cantonal capital (ESTV, 2026), typical rent for 3–4 rooms (FSO, 2024), average health premiums (FOPH, 2027), radio and TV fee 2027, example childcare rate (familienleben.ch, 2025). The family and the timetable are an example; not tax or legal advice.