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Quality of life in Basel (Basel-Stadt) — scores, review and neighborhoods

6.8/ 10
Top 10% in Switzerland#3 in the cantonExcellent
Population
162,209
Commune type
Metropolis

Living in Basel, a commune of 162209 inhabitants in Canton Basel-Stadt — with an overall score of 6.8/10, this commune is attractive for quality of life in Switzerland. It stands out for Education & Culture (10/10) and Healthcare (10/10). Its score is in line with the cantonal average.

Scorecard

Noise
7.6
Air Quality
3.3
Public Transport
8.3
Education & Culture
10.0
Nightlife & Dining
9.8
Nature & Green Spaces
3.6
Healthcare
10.0
Taxation
3.9
Annual Sunshine
4.3
Cantonal average

Basel's national strengths

#1 in Switzerland · Education & Culture ↗#1 in Switzerland · Healthcare ↗Top 25 · Nightlife & Dining ↗
Per our methodology ↗

Recommended Profiles

Young Professional
ExceptionalTop 1% in Switzerland
mediantop
Family
Very goodTop 25% in Switzerland
mediantop
Retirement
Good
mediantop
Nature
Average
mediantop

For young professionals looking to settle in Switzerland, Basel achieves a compatibility score of 7.1/10. Key strengths for this profile include Public Transport and Nightlife & Dining. The Nature profile (5.4/10) would find better alternatives in neighboring communes.

Strengths: Basel excels in Education & Culture (10/10) — excellent access to schools, libraries, and cultural venues, Healthcare (10/10) — excellent access to doctors, clinics, and hospitals, Nightlife & Dining (9.8/10) — a rich selection of restaurants, bars, and entertainment.

Areas to consider: Lower scores are noted for Air Quality (3.3/10) — degraded air quality from traffic emissions, Nature & Green Spaces (3.6/10) — a more urbanized setting with fewer green spaces, Taxation (3.9/10) — a higher tax burden than average.

Basel neighbourhoods

VivaMap goes well below commune level: in Basel, scores are available per neighbourhood (H3 hexagons of ~0.1 km²) and even per rooftop. Within-commune contrasts are often as sharp as the differences between neighbouring communes.

Explore Basel neighbourhoods →
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Key Infrastructure

Education & Culture

Universität BaselUniversity
FHNWUniversity
Juristische Fakultät Universität BaselUniversity
Europainstitut der Universität BaselUniversity
Frey-Grynaeisches InstitutUniversity
RosshofUniversity
UniversitätsspitalUniversity
Juristische FakultätUniversity

Public Transport

Basel SBBTrain Station
Basel Badischer BahnhofTrain Station
Basel SNCFTrain Station
Basel DreispitzTrain Station
Basel St. JohannTrain Station
Basel St. JakobTrain Station
Basel Kleinhüningen HafenTrain Station
KunstmuseumTram Stop

Healthcare Facilities

Universitätsspital BaselHospital
Universitäts-Kinderspital Beider BaselHospital
St. Clara-SpitalHospital
Bethesda SpitalHospital
Felix-Platter-SpitalHospital
Institut für Pathologie Universitätsspital BaselHospital
REHAB BaselHospital
Adullam Spital und PflegezentrenHospital

Guides to read for this area

Four guides by lifestyle profile and three analyses of this area's strongest criteria.

By lifestyle profile

Family
Where to Live in Basel as a Family
Young Professional
Where to Live in Basel as a Young Professional
Retirement
Where to Live in Basel in Retirement
Nature
Where to Live in Basel Close to Nature
Explore the map for more details →

Considering buying property in Basel or moving to Canton Basel-Stadt? Our interactive map lets you explore quality of life at the neighborhood level and compare with nearby communes.

Frequently asked questions about Basel

What's it like to live in Basel? Resident impressions and quality of life
Basel scores exceptionally on healthcare, with a 9.1 rating reflecting strong medical services and facilities. Education and noise levels are also notable strengths, scoring 7.7 and 7.6 respectively, supporting families and those seeking quieter urban living. Worth flagging: natural spaces present a challenge, scoring only 3.6, which may concern residents prioritizing green surroundings. Air quality at 5.3 reflects typical urban conditions. Public transport remains solid at 7.4, and cultural amenities including dining options score 7.3. The commune borders Birsfelden, Binningen, and Bottmingen, offering nearby alternatives. Explore the detailed scores on the map to discover which dimensions matter most for your lifestyle.
How sunny and clean is the air in Basel?
Basel's healthcare infrastructure stands out with a score of 9.1, reflecting robust medical services. The commune scores moderately on air quality at 5.3, indicating room for improvement in this dimension. Sunshine exposure is another weaker area at 4.3, suggesting limited annual sunlight hours compared to other Swiss regions. It is worth noting that Basel's strong transport connectivity (7.4) and educational offerings (7.7) complement these environmental factors. For a detailed breakdown of how Basel compares with neighboring communes like Birsfelden, Binningen, and Bottmingen across all livability dimensions, explore the interactive map.
How well-connected is Basel? Transport, schools, dining
Basel demonstrates strong connectivity across multiple dimensions. With a health score of 9.1, the commune excels in access to medical facilities, reflecting its well-developed infrastructure. Education and transport infrastructure are similarly robust, scoring 7.7 and 7.4 respectively, indicating reliable schools and transit networks. Dining and restaurant options score 7.3, offering reasonable variety for residents. It is worth noting that nature accessibility lags considerably at 3.6, suggesting limited green spaces relative to urban density. Air quality also presents a concern at 5.3, typical of urban centers. Overall, Basel functions as a well-connected urban hub with strong institutional and service networks. Explore the detailed scores on the map to discover how these factors compare with neighbors like Birsfelden, Binningen, and Bottmingen.
What are the neighboring communes of Basel and how big is it?
Basel's health services score stands at an impressive 9.1, reflecting strong healthcare provision in this urban center. With a population of 162,209, Basel is a significant city anchored in the Basel agglomeration. The commune borders three neighbors: Birsfelden, Binningen, and Bottmingen. It is worth noting that while Basel excels in healthcare and education (scoring 7.7), its fiscal environment presents challenges at 3.9. Environmental factors like air quality (5.3) and nature access (3.6) score more modestly. Explore the detailed profiles of Basel and its neighboring communes on the map to understand local variations.
Is Basel a tax-friendly municipality?
Basel's healthcare infrastructure stands out with a score of 9.1, reflecting comprehensive medical services. Education also performs strongly at 7.7, supported by solid transport connectivity at 7.4. However, tax friendliness presents a different picture, with Basel scoring 3.9 on fiscal terms, indicating it is not particularly tax-advantaged compared to peers. It is worth noting that neighboring municipalities like Birsfelden, Binningen, and Bottmingen may offer different fiscal profiles. For a detailed comparison of Basel's financial environment and how it stacks against surrounding communes, explore the interactive map.

Neighboring communes of Basel

Demographic profile

Age structure

0–19 years 16.9 %20–64 years 64.1 %65 and over 19 %
Density
7,263 inhab./km²
Change over 10 yrs
+6.1 %
Vacant housing
1.0 %
New dwellings
4.5 per 1,000 inhab.
Social assistance
6.4 %
Tertiary employment
81.1 %

Land use

Built-up area 86.5 %Agricultural land 3.9 %Forest 3.6 %

Source: FSO — Regional portraits of municipalities, 2021

Information

Canton
Basel-Stadt (BS)
Language region
German-speaking Switzerland
Coordinates
47.5595, 7.5948
BFS Number
2701
Last updated
29 June 2026

Data: FSO, geo.admin.ch, OSM — Scores normalised 0-10

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