Is Switzerland a better place to live?

If you are thinking of moving to Switzerland, you might want to ask yourself: Is Switzerland a safe place to live in? What are the best cities in Switzerland? And what is the cost of living in those cities? Well, ask no more because this guide will answer all your questions. 

The Best Places To Live in Switzerland

Deciding on which city to live in Switzerland might be a challenge, but thankfully you have a variety of choices depending on your preferences. The fact that four cities of Switzerland were ranked in the top 50 best cities for expats made identifying the best cities a lot easier. 

Since Switzerland is one of the safest places to live and visit, each city is highly secure and has a high quality of life. So, before moving to your new life abroad, make sure you get all the information about the best places to live in Switzerland. 

Geneva 

Considering that Geneva is a big city, the cost of living is also high. According to the World Economic Forum, Geneva is the seventh most expensive city globally. Foyers and residences will charge you between CHF 300 to CHF 600 per month. But you can save money on rent by finding a roommate to share an apartment with. 

Zurich

Generally known as a financial epicenter of Switzerland, Zurich is also popular for all the cultural and entertainment opportunities during summertime and wintertime, such as visiting the old town, enjoying the nightlife, or swimming in Swiss lakes and rivers. Moreover, you can ski on the resorts not far from the city, visit museums, or indulge in Swiss cuisine during wintertime. All these come at a cost; after all, Zurich is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. So you can expect to pay a total of CHF 182,698 for rent and other monthly expenses. 

Winterthur 

This German-speaking city has one of the largest expat populations in Switzerland. The sixth-largest city by population is home to over 110,000 residents. Winterthur is also a cultural city known for its museums and art galleries. 

Many expats choose to relocate to Winterthur since it is in the Zurich canton and is only 20 minutes away from Zurich, not to mention that the rental house and house prices are lower than in Zurich.

Lugano 

Naturally, the cost of living in this city is relatively high. A single person’s monthly expenses are around CHF 1,426, plus an extra CHF 2,350 for renting an apartment in the city center. 

Bern 

Bern’s beauty and uniqueness make the city very popular and visited by tourists and shoppers. If you happen to relocate to Bern, you will have many fun things to do; Bern’s Old Town (Berner Altstadt) should be the first thing on your list. Afterward, visit Barenpark, from where the city gets its symbol (the bear), then move to Einstein House, Parliament building, Botanic Garden, and don’t forget to see Bern’s spooky side.

The capital of Switzerland is an expensive city to live in. A single person’s monthly costs are CHF 1,366 without the cost of the rent. Whereas renting a three-bedroom apartment may cost around CHF 2,375. 

St. Gallen 

St. Gallen is home to 167,000 residents. The city is known for the highly-rated University of St. Gallen, the best business school in Europe. It is located near the German border, where Swiss-German is the most commonly spoken language.

St. Gallen is a great city to live in for expats working in Zurich because of the lower cost of living. The apartment rent in the city center might cost you around CHF 1,917 per month. 

Basel

There are plenty of things to do in this city for people who live there. The city has many great bars, restaurants, and boutique shops. You can also visit the old town, Basel’s zoo, or make a wish in Basel’s wish book.

However, Basel is an expensive city to live in. A single person’s monthly costs are about CHF 2,542 for rent and CHF 1,544 for other monthly expenses. As for the crime rates in Basel, they are meager, and you are safe at any time as the police are strict about any violation.

Zug 

The multicultural city of Zug is home to around 30,000 residents. It has access to larger cities as well as the Swiss countryside since it is located between Zurich and Lucerne, thus offering people alternatives. 

Although house prices are increasing in the area, the cost of living in Zug is higher than the average but cheaper than most big cities. You can expect to pay about CHF 5,343 for your monthly expenses, including rent. And rest assured, Zug is a very safe place to live in with a low level of crime. 

Lucerne

Living in Lucerne is very expensive. A single person’s monthly expenses are about CHF 3,945, including rent. However, Lucerne is an extraordinarily safe and friendly place, and the crime rate is meager.

Lausanne 

Lausanne, another lakeside city, is home to about 420,000 residents. The French-speaking city is located 62 kilometers northwest of Geneva. It is known as the smallest city globally with its metro system, and it is home to several international corporations.  It is an attraction to expats because of the town’s famous jazz festival. 

Unfortunately, living in Lausanne is not cheap either. A single person’s monthly expenses are CHF 1,434 and an extra CHF 2,953 for rent per month. 

Sion 

You can find the most famous ski resorts outside Sion, such as Zermatt, that attract many tourists to Sion. But the cost of living in Sion is pretty high; expect to pay up to CHF 1,787 on rent for a three-bedroom apartment. 

La Chaux-de-Fonds

La Chaux-de-Fonds, the fourth-largest city in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, is home to 36,915 residents. It is located in the Jura mountains, a few kilometers south of the French border. Hence the town’s most common language is French. 

The town is characterized by a chessboard, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, created after a catastrophic fire. It also has a watch museum, “Musée International de L’Horlogerie,” dedicated to the history of time measurement. Thus, attracting a lot of visitors. 

One person’s average cost of living in La Chaux-de-Fonds is about CHF 3315 per month, including rent. However, the crime levels in this city are low, so you will most likely be safe. However be aware of your goods, just in case.

Conclusion

Each one of these cities has its own unique characteristics of Swiss life in its own multilingual and safe way. However, the most common feature among these cities is that the cost of living is noticeably higher than the most global expat destinations. So, keep that in mind, and start saving money before moving to Switzerland.

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