How much does it cost to live in Switzerland?

How can I manage my money in Switzerland?

Differences between cantons should be taken into account when choosing a place to live.

The most expensive cantons are Geneva and Basel (high housing costs, above-average health insurance premiums). The cheapest cantons are Uri and Glarus (low housing costs, moderate taxes). Changing place of residence would enable some households to stretch their budget further.

The provides an overview of all Swiss cantons, allowing for some interesting comparisons.

Rent, including charges and parking space, should not exceed one third of your net income.

The monthly rent for a standard four-room apartment costs an average of CHF 1,865. In some municipalities in the canton of Jura, you would pay less than CHF 1,200 for a similar apartment.

However, if you decide to live in a major city like Geneva or Zurich, the rent may exceed CHF 2,000 and in some districts, it could be as high as CHF 3,000.

Generally speaking, health insurance premiums are paid monthly.

Mandatory health insurance premiums makes a sizeable dent in a household's budget. For a single person, the average monthly premium is CHF 330. For two people, this amount should be doubled, and if children are taken into account, an additional CHF 100 per child should be budgeted for. In total, the premiums per month for a family with two children (under 18 years of age) amount to CHF 1,000.

There are major differences between insurance policies, excess and the models available with costs varying greatly from canton to canton. It is relatively easy to compare insurance policies and providers online.

In Switzerland, the government is not the only authority that levies taxes. Taxes can vary enormously, not only between cantons, but also between municipalities.

Taxes are generally higher in French-speaking Switzerland and in urban centres than in rural municipalities.

You can how tax rates vary between cantons and municipalities.

Seven out of ten workers do not work in their town of residence. The average worker travels 14.5 kilometres to and from work in the space of 30 minutes.

Transport costs are higher outside cities, but they are generally offset by lower housing costs.

Mobility costs are usually tax deductible.

People who commute by car sometimes pay four times more than they would for public transport.