Cost of living in Switzerland

Last update: January, 2024

⚠️ This page is a work in progress, information will gradually be added and those already present will be expanded upon.

Switzerland is recognised for its high quality of life, consistently ranked among the best places to live globally. However, this prestige comes with a significantly high cost of living. Switzerland is the most expensive country in Europe, with a price level 50% higher than the EU average. Despite this, it is important to note that purchasing power in Switzerland is really high. For example, purchasing power in Basel is estimated to be more than twice as high as in Milan.

Rental Costs

Rents** in Switzerland are proportional to the average salary, which is quite high. This means that rents also tend to be high. You can get an idea by searching for a few flats on real estate sites as immoscout24.ch and newhome.ch. Look for something in Lugano, something in Bern, Zurich, Geneva.

Economic Opportunities

Despite the high cost of living, Switzerland offers many economic opportunities. The level of unemployment is very low.

Security and Health

Switzerland is an extremely safe country, having one of the lowest crime rates in the world. In addition, Switzerland has both a public and private healthcare system, with compulsory health insurance for everyone living in the Confederation. Typically, a family of three spends around CHF 1,000 and up per month on 'health insurance' alone.

Immigration Process

EU citizens do not require a visa to enter Switzerland and may stay up to 90 days in a six-month period without having to request any authorisation . After this period, European citizens must register with the immigration office of the canton in which they wish to settle.

Numbeo is a reliable site where you can get a fairly accurate idea of the cost of living in many cities around the world, including Swiss cities, by directly comparing the figures with those of other cities.