Move to Switzerland
7 cities, one country, zero sugar-coating. Residency paths, real costs, and whether the government will leave you alone.
Switzerland at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Visa routes we know about
10 years
to permanent residency
10 years
to citizenship
⚠️ Requires B1 in the canton's official language (German/French/Italian) and a municipal integration assessment.
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
Spouse receives residence permit with work rights in the same canton. Canton change requires new permit.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in Switzerland
7 cities ranked by Livability Score — the one number that rolls up rent, safety, democracy, and internet
Lugano
79/100Lausanne
78/100Lucerne
77/100Zurich
73/100Basel
71/100Bern
71/100Geneva
67/100Compare cities in Switzerland
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$3,006
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 7 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$96,498
GDP per capita
4.9%
Unemployment
1.1%
Inflation
Moderate inequality — some neighborhoods will feel like different countries.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
9.32/10
🏛️ Full democracy
#5 of 163
Global Peace Index
Is Switzerland safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Safe enough to stop thinking about it. Standard urban awareness applies.
Safest tracked city: Zurich (0.5 per 100k)
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
German
Primary language
High
English proficiency (#30 globally)
Most people speak decent English. You can survive without German, but your landlord will respect you more if you try.
❓ Moving to Switzerland — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in Switzerland?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Lugano ranks #1 in Switzerland with a score of 79/100. City-centre rent starts around $1813/month.
How much does it cost to live in Switzerland?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $1813 to $3006/month across our 7 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $5,272.
How do I get permanent residency in Switzerland?▾
The path to permanent residency in Switzerland typically takes 10 years. Citizenship is possible after 10 years. Note: Requires B1 in the canton's official language (German/French/Italian) and a municipal integration assessment.
Is Switzerland a democracy?▾
Switzerland scores 9.32/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Full democracy." It ranks #5 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is Switzerland safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in Switzerland is 0.6 per 100,000 people. That's quite safe by global standards.