Switzerland is among the richest countries in the world. What’s more, in March a ranking of the most expensive countries to live in was published and Switzerland was on the top of the list. How much does it cost to live in this country? And most importantly – are the costs of living in Switzerland adequate to earnings? Check it out in the article below!
Working in Switzerland – what is worth knowing?
- Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but belongs to the Schengen zone.
- Economic emigration to Switzerland involves the completion of many formalities. Appropriate permission must be arranged in order to be able to obtain a work/entry visa. The cost is about CHF 60 / EUR 61.
- There are 4 official languages in Switzerland: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Knowledge of the German language will make it much easier to find a job in this country.
- Switzerland is not very friendly to foreigners. In recruitment for a high position, a Swiss person has a better chance than a foreigner. In connection with this, it is worth looking for a job where the demand is the greatest.
Costs of living in Switzerland and earnings
Before we get into the analysis of the costs of living in Switzerland, it is worth reading the previous article about earnings in this country. Browsing through internet forums and comments of foreigners living in Switzerland, one dominant statement can be noticed – prices in this country are matched to earnings. So, as we will see later, quite high prices are caused by high wages.
It is also worth emphasizing that all the prices that will be given below do not reflect in 100% the reality. Prices will be higher in larger cities and significantly much lower in the provinces. A similar division can virtually be seen in every country.
However, it is undeniable that the average earnings of Swiss employees are several times higher than those of people who work in other EU countries in similar positions. Thanks to this, the life standard of the Swiss people, as well as employees from other countries working there, is very high. But what are the differences in the costs of living between other countries and Switzerland? To get a general picture of the situation, it is worth getting acquainted with the following information that may help in becoming aware of the differences.
Days off and Holidays in Switzerland 2023
Fixed costs of living in Switzerland
Assuming that a person works and lives permanently in Switzerland, monthly expenses can be extracted:
- Renting an apartment – on average around CHF 1700 – 2000/month (EUR 1735 – 2050). On average, we will pay this much for a studio apartment or a small 2-room apartment.
- Serafe – CHF 335 (approx. EUR 342) per year. It is a mandatory radio and television subscription. Regardless of whether there is, or there isn’t a TV or a radio in the apartment, we have to pay.
- Health insurance – approx. CHF 300 – 2000/year (EUR 306 – 2050). Every resident should have health insurance, regardless of whether they work or not. Officials are obliged to check the possession of insurance.
- SIM card, Internet – for the cheapest package (8 GB) we will pay about CHF 14 (EUR 14). In addition, you have to pay CHF 20 (EUR 20) for activating the sim card (one-time payment). At the same time, it is worth remembering that Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, so roaming costs are definitely higher.
How to get Swiss citizenship? – Necessary information
Accommodation costs in Switzerland
As it is known, the cost of renting an apartment depends mainly on the location, size and the required standard. That is why the prices of apartments in different cantons vary greatly.
However, it can be assumed that renting a two-room apartment (about 60 m²) of a good standard, will cost CHF 1700 – 2000/month (EUR 1735 – 2050). It will not be anything revealing information, that in the vicinity of Zurich and other major cities, these costs will be in the upper limit of the given range, and in smaller towns we can count on a rental for a sum around the lower limit.
Important! Utilities will usually be in advance included in the monthly rent.
The prices for renting a room are, of course, proportionally lower – CHF 1200 – 1500 (approx. EUR 1230 – 1535). It is also worth paying attention to those job offers in which the employer provides accommodation – this can also be a great solution, especially in the case of temporary work.
Public transport in Switzerland – costs
It turns out that although at first glance the costs of public transport in Switzerland are very high, it is much more profitable than the same way of moving around in other EU countries. This difference, of course, is due to the difference in earnings. And so – if we use rail transport, we will pay about CHF 30 (approx. EUR 30) for a 1-day ticket.
The price for a single bus ticket is approx. CHF 4.40 (EUR 4.50). This is not the cheapest option, so it is worth using seasonal tickets. Several offers can be distinguished:
- Swiss Half Fare Card – CHF 120 per month (EUR 123). This ticket entitles to a 50% discount on all types of public transport.
- Swiss Travel Pass – CHF 232 for 3 days (EUR 236). This ticket entitles to a 100% discount on buses, trains, ferries and public transport throughout the country. Also with the purchase you will receive free passes to 500 museums.
- Seven25 Travelcard – CHF 39 per month (EUR 40). This ticket can only be purchased by persons under 25 years of age. The ticket is valid only at night hours (from 19:00 to 5:00 in the morning).
- Saver Day Pass – CHF 69 per day (EUR 70). This ticket is for rail travel only. It is important that the purchase of the ticket takes place before the planned journey. The sooner you purchase the Saver Day Pass, the more you can save.
Jobs in Switzerland – Check the list of the highest paid professions
Car fees in Switzerland
When it comes to current expenses related to food and household chemicals, we can say again: it depends. From your dietary preferences or the amount of food and cleaning products which you use, as well as whether you shop alone, or with a partner or friends.
Quite cheap shopping can be done in the Coop or Migros supermarket chains. Also in Switzerland we will find shops (Äss-Bar) where only the products with expiry dates nearing the end are in the offer.
Sample prices for food products are as follows:
| Product | Price |
| Bread (loaf) | CHF 3.30 (EUR 3.40) |
| Water (1.5 liter) | CHF 1.15 (EUR 1.17) |
| Chicken breast (1kg) | CHF 20 (EUR 21) |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | CHF 5.50 (EUR 5.60) |
| Eggs (10 pcs) | CHF 6.20 (EUR 6.33) |
| Milk (1 liter) | CHF 1.95 (EUR 1.99) |
| Oranges (1kg) | CHF 2 (EUR 2.04) |
| Potatoes (1kg) | CHF 2.50 (EUR 2.55) |
Does it pay to work in Switzerland?
Looking for the first time at the differences in prices between other EU countries and Switzerland, one can come to the conclusion that it is not worth going there. However, if we take into account the average earnings that can be achieved there, it turns out that the Swiss people have a better price-earnings ratio than foreigners. Let’s take a look at some examples of earnings in various positions:
| Position | Amount of monthly salary |
| Waiter / Waitress | CHF 3500 / EUR 3600 |
| Cook | CHF 4100 / EUR 4200 |
| Construction helper | CHF 4500 / EUR 4600 |
| Mechanic | CHF 5500 / EUR 5600 |
| Plumber | CHF 5200 / EUR 5300 |
| Electrician | CHF 5500 / EUR 5600 |
| Truck driver | CHF 5500 / EUR 5600 |
| Welder | CHF 5600 / EUR 5740 |
| Bricklayer | CHF 5500 / EUR 5600 |
| Caregiver of elderly people | CHF 4500 / EUR 4600 |
| Fitter | CHF 5500 / EUR 5600 |
| Courier | CHF 4000 / EUR 4100 |
| Fruits / vegetables harvesting | CHF 3500 / EUR 3600 |
Are you wondering about going to Switzerland? Check out our latest offers!
