Cost of Living in Zurich, Switzerland. Mar 2024 prices in Zurich. (2024)

FAQs

How much money do I need to live in Zurich? ›

If you are a family, you can expect to spend between 4000 and 8000 Swiss francs per month on living expenses. If you are a single person, you can expect to pay between 2500 and 4000 Swiss francs per month on living expenses. These costs can vary depending on your lifestyle and where you live in Switzerland.

The average asking price per square meter for an apartment in Zurich in August was 17,196 Swiss franc (around $18,985), according to data from Properstar, or 15,792 Swiss franc ($17,435), per data from RealAdvisor.

A single person estimated monthly costs are 1,758.0$ (1,599.8Fr.) without rent. Zurich is 9.0% more expensive than New York (without rent). Rent in Zurich is, on average, 43.3% lower than in New York.

A single person estimated monthly costs are 1,683.8$ (1,539.5Fr.) without rent. Cost of living in Switzerland is, on average, 46.3% higher than in United States. Rent in Switzerland is, on average, 12.4% higher than in United States.

The median monthly rent for houses on the market is CHF 3,900. The monthly rent of 80% of properties falls between CHF 399 and CHF 9,548. The average annual rent per m² in Zurich is CHF 404 / m² / year (annual rent per square meter of living surface).

For a “detached house, 5 rooms, 160 m2 of living space, year of construction 2011, good quality (average market price in Swiss francs)”, would cost between 1.5 - 2.3 million CHF in Geneva or Zurich/Zug, versus 550,000 to 750,000 CHF in Valais and elsewhere, according to https://www.homegate.ch/buy/estimate-residential- ...

Zurich is almost one and a half times as expensive to live in as New York, excluding rent.

In general, non-resident foreign individuals may not purchase land and/or property to use as a primary residence. A non-resident may acquire a holiday home in Switzerland upon receipt of an authorization from the canton where the property is located.

Rent should not be more than 1/3 of disposable income, which is a budgeting rule of thumb. 24′000/45′000 is 53 %. To live on less than 2000 CHF per month is possible in Zurich.

The example of Switzerland:

With a cost of living index of 131 all goods are on average about 31% more expensive than in the USA. But the average income in Switzerland of 7,958 USD is also 24% higher, which means that citizens can also afford more goods.

Can an American live in Zurich? ›

Yes, for stays longer than 90 days, you have to apply for a Switzerland long-stay visa. You can apply for the Swiss long-stay visa (also known as a national or D-visa) at the Swiss embassy/consulate responsible for your state.

(US dollars are generally not accepted in Switzerland.) Keep in mind that if you do pay in Euros, change will be given back to you in Swiss francs. It is therefore recommended that when purchasing goods and services in Switzerland, you use the Swiss franc.

Switzerland has universal health care, regulated by the Swiss Federal Law on Health Insurance. There are no free state-provided health services, but private health insurance is compulsory for all persons residing in Switzerland (within three months of taking up residence or being born in the country).

According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office and World Salaries, the average salary in Zürich is CHF 100,000 per year or CHF 51.28 per hour, which is roughly 113,579.20 USD. As you can see, the average salary in Zürich is very high compared to other countries.

According to the latest data, to be considered rich in Switzerland, a single person would have to have an income of at least 8.508 francs a month before tax, or 102.096 francs a year. For a couple with two children, the pre-tax monthly income threshold increases to more than 17.867 francs, or 214.404 francs a year.