Moving to Zurich? 2024 Living Costs & Relocation Tips

Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city and sits proudly on the northern flank of Lake Zurich with a backdrop of the Alps. Zurich has carefully preserved its history while welcoming contemporary trends in architecture.

If you are considering moving to Zurich, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in a shoppers’ El Dorado.

Quick Zurich Facts:

Population: 443,037 (2024), 1.83 million in the whole metropolitan area.
Official Language: Swiss German (de facto) with many other languages being spoken at home, including English, French, Italian, Romansch, Polish, Russian and many others.
GDP Per Capita: $82,410 USD (2017)
Drinking fountains: Zurich has over 1200 drinking fountains, from simple little springs to beautiful, ornate creations.
Currency: Swiss Franc or CHF. As of early 2023, $1 USD = 0.94 CHF, €1 EUR = 0.99 CHF, $1 CAD = 0.69 CHF, $1 AUD = 0.63 CHF

Sections

1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Zurich

Here are some estimated costs of moving to Zurich from other major European cities.

You can also look at our guides to Container Shipping Rates To Switzerland and Best International Moving Companies in Switzerland for moves from further away.

From City	Estimated Cost
London, UK	CHF 1,700
Paris, France	CHF 1,400
Berlin, Germany	CHF 2,000
Rome, Italy	CHF 1,800
Amsterdam, Netherlands	CHF 1,600
Stockholm, Sweden	CHF 2,200
Vienna, Austria	CHF 1,900
Warsaw, Poland	CHF 1,500
Lisbon, Portugal	CHF 1,600
Geneva, Switzerland	CHF 800

2. Zurich Housing Costs

House and flat prices in Zurich are among the most expensive in the world. Prices obviously vary from area to area but the figures below will indicate what’s available at what price.

Monthly Rental Prices in Zurich:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: CHF 2,199+
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: CHF 1,640+
3 bedroomed flat in City Centre: CHF 4,000+
3 bedroomed flat outside the City Centre: CHF 2,800+

Zurich Home Purchase Prices:

Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: CHF 20,900+
Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: CHF 12,400+

Zurich Housing Cost Comparison:

This is how rents in Zurich compare with other cities around the globe.

London is 2.7% more expensive
New York is 33.8% more expensive
Los Angeles is 9.5% more expensive
Toronto is 37.7% cheaper
Vancouver is 28.2% cheaper
Sydney is 19.1% cheaper
Melbourne is 66.7% cheaper
Paris is 52.4% cheaper
Dubai is 38.4% more expensive

Source: Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs:

Share a Flat or House: Like any city in the world with such high rental costs, flat and house sharing in Zurich is very popular. With a house/flat share you will have your own room, or, for a cheaper option, you can share a room. The bathroom/s will be shared with other people in the house/flat. Have a look on RoomLaLa, Just Landed, Comparis and Erasmusu and find someone you can get on with to share the costs with you.
Different Areas – Different Prices: Like all cities, Zurich has its expensive and cheaper areas, although nowhere is cheap. Remember being close to the lake may be your dream, but the rents can be double or even triple that of an apartment elsewhere. Professionals, such as bankers and lawyers, enjoy living in Enge and Seefield in the city. Areas enjoyed by older residents include Fluntern and Zurichberg by the Zoo. If you prefer a trendy area with loft apartments and proximity to restaurants and bars, then Kreis 5 is for you. The young set enjoy being close to the university in areas like Unterstrass and Oberstrass. Lakeside living on the Gold Coast and the Silver Coast is very popular with expats, especially those with children as there are two international schools in the area. One of the cheapest areas to live is in the vicinity of the airport. Due to the rising rent prices, this area is beginning to attract expats.

3. Zurich Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs

Zurich has a wide selection of both traditional Swiss and international restaurants. It also panders to the Zuricher’s sweet tooth with wonderful cafés serving the most divine pastries. If you are a dog owner, you will have the added bonus of being able to take your dog into many cafes and restaurants.

Inexpensive Restaurant: CHF 25.00 – CHF 30.00
Takeout Coffee: CHF 5.30 – CHF 6.00
Bottle of Coke: CHF 4.50 – CHF 5.00
1L of Milk: CHF 1.60 – CHF 1.80
Loaf of Bread: CHF 3.00 – CHF 3.60
12 Eggs: CHF 6.00 – CHF 8.00
1kg Chicken: CHF 26.00 – CHF 35.00
1kg Beef: CHF 50.00 – CHF 80.00
1kg Apples: CHF 3.60 – CHF 5.00
1kg White Rice: CHF 3.20 – CHF 4.00

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.

New York restaurants are 19.9% cheaper and groceries are 21.3% cheaper than Zurich.
Los Angeles restaurants are 32.6% cheaper and groceries are 57.9% cheaper than Zurich.
London restaurants are 48.9% cheaper and groceries are 116.1% cheaper than Zurich.
Toronto restaurants are 61.4% cheaper and groceries are 79.9% cheaper than Zurich.
Vancouver restaurants are 66.4% cheaper and groceries are 72.7% cheaper than Zurich.
Sydney restaurants are 56.7% cheaper and groceries are 56.8% more expensive than Zurich.
Melbourne restaurants are 61.4% cheaper and groceries are 53.9% cheaper than Zurich.
Paris restaurants are 71.4% cheaper and groceries are 60.5% cheaper than Zurich.
Dubai restaurants are 68.4% cheaper and groceries are 147.8% cheaper than Zurich.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries:

Know Your Supermarkets: Manor Supermarkets are generally the most expensive supermarkets, where you’ll find exclusive, luxury goods. Migros is Switzerland’s largest supermarket chain and, together with Coop and Volg forms the middle of the road when it comes to prices. Denner is Switzerland’s third-largest supermarket chain and is also reasonably priced. Aldi, Lidl and Spar are the cheapest supermarkets in Switzerland. Zurich has some amazing markets where you will find fresh produce from all over Switzerland including cheeses and meat. One of the most well-known is the Barnhofmarkt. If you are looking for a market selling food from around the world, then head for Helvetiaplatz Market which has over 400 stalls. Bürkiplatz Farmers Market may be a little expensive but it sells top-quality organic fruit and veg, fresh fish, regional specialities and flowers.
Find Cheap Eats: Eurocheapo, Yelp and Afar all have suggestions for restaurants which offer affordable meals.

4. Zurich Alcohol Costs

Zurich has a great selection of bars and nightclubs. The following is a list of basic prices of beer and wine from the supermarket and restaurants.

Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: CHF 8.00
Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: CHF 7.25 – CHF 8.00
Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a supermarket: CHF 2.00 – CHF 3.00
Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: CHF 2.80 – CHF 4.00
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: CHF 13.00 – CHF 18.00

How To Drink For Less in Zurich:

Keep an eye on the local papers and websites for specials over weekends and public holidays.
Yelp has a few suggestions for finding cheaper drinks in Zurich. Unfortunately, Happy Hour isn’t a Swiss tradition.
Scour the areas around Zurich University and other tertiary institutions to find the best alcohol deals.

5. Zurich Transportation Fares

Zurich’s public transport system is excellent. There is an efficient system of trains, buses and trams which run regularly and cover all routes.

Here are some example ticket costs.

Adult single – CHF 4.40
One-day ticket for bus, tram and train – CHF 24.00
Monthly season ticket for bus, tram and train – CHF 100.00

How To Save Money on Public Transport:

Buy a 72-hour pass for CHF 48.00
Buy a Zuerich Card which gives you travel discounts and entry to museums and other perks.
Buy a bike. There is a good system of cycle lanes all around the city and many people cycle to work and school.
Walk. The city is not that big and exercise is always good.

6. Cost of Internet in Zurich

Internet in the UK is one of the few things that is cheaper than the US, Canada or Australia. Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2023 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract:

Sunrise: 49.90 CHF a month (Fiber broadband, up to 1GB of data)

7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure

Everyone in Zurich talks about the summer and it’s certainly worth waiting for. The hottest month is August with an average temperature of 19°C. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 0°C. The wettest month is August, with an average of 120mm falling during the month.

Like most places in Switzerland, rain is always a possibility, so it’s wise to carry an umbrella or a fold-up waterproof jacket, especially from May to October when Zurich experiences the most rain.

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.

Pair of Jeans: CHF 100.00 – CHF 140.00
Summer Dress: CHF 60.00 – CHF 80.00
Running Shoes (Trainers): CHF 110.00 – CHF 180.00
Business Shoes: CHF 190.00 – CHF 300.00
Short Doctor’s Visit (15 mins): CHF 150.00
Deodorant: CHF 6.00
Shampoo: CHF 7.00
Toilet Paper (4 rolls): CHF 3.50
Gym Membership: CHF 90.00 – CHF 110.00 per month
Movie (cinema) Ticket: CHF 20.00

Source: Numbeo and Expatistan

8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Zurich

Everyone in Switzerland drives on the Right. Driving in Zurich is not a problem as long as you obey the rules of the road. Fines are very high and the traffic police and parking attendants are very vigilant.

If you’re moving to Zurich from within Switzerland, you’ll be able to keep your licence but need to update your address to your new Zurich one. You can drive on a foreign licence for 12 months, after that you will need to obtain a Swiss license. Your foreign licence must be in either English, French, German or Italian. If it isn’t, then you either need a translation or an International Driver’s Licence. People from the EU/EEA don’t need to take a test to get their Swiss Licence. Each Canton has its own traffic office where you can organise your Swiss licence.

Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Zurich:

Volkswagen Golf: CHF 32,500+
1 litre (¼ gallon) of Gas (petrol): CHF 2.09
Registration Fee (if any): Varies from Canton to Canton and also depends on the vehicle
Motorway Fee: CHF 40.00 per annum
Other Fees (if any): MOT every four years. Price varies from Canton to Canton and vehicle to vehicle.

Source: Expatistan, CH

Ways To Save Money on Driving in Zurich:

Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try BlaBlaCar and Carpoolworld.
Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Try Uber.

9. Taxes in Zurich

No matter where you live in Switzerland, you will pay the same rate of tax. Sales Tax is 8% in Switzerland and is added to most goods and services throughout the country. Unlike in some countries, it is always included in the marked price.

Whether you own or rent your home, you will be subject to council tax based on the area in which you live and the size of the property you live in. Switzerland has a complex system where areas of a city with wealthy residents and commercial areas often pay lower tax than areas whose residents earn an average income. The council also charge you per bag of garbage they remove. So use the many recycling sites around Zurich and save some money.

Finally, if you decide to buy a flat or house in Zurich you should expect to pay 5% of the sale price to pay fees – 0.2 – 1% notary fees, 0.3 – 3% property transfer tax and 1 – 1.5% for registering the property deed.

10. Flight Costs from Zurich

If you do make the move to Zurich, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of early 2023:

New York: CHF 342
Los Angeles: CHF 492
London: CHF 83
Paris: CHF 75
Toronto: CHF 551
Vancouver: CHF 523
Dubai: CHF 289
Sydney: CHF 660
Melbourne: CHF 618
Cape Town: CHF 365
Hong Kong: CHF 512

Other Tips on Moving to Zurich:

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Zurich but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

11. Moving to Zurich Alone

Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, but moving to a new city can be rather daunting. Here are a few tips about settling into Zurich.

Meetups: Zurich has lots of free meetup groups you can find on Meetup.com. Find groups that do what you love, such as Bitcoin, Hiking, Zurich Socialising, Zurich Happy Runners, Zurich Hash House Harriers and many more.
Attend Local Events: There are always events going on in Zurich at any given time. Find out what’s happening from Timeout and My Switzerland.

12. Moving to Zurich with a Family

Zurich has a lot to offer families. It has a great history which can be explored in the museums and buildings throughout the city. Zurich Lake becomes ‘the beach’ in the summer months and, of course, there are the Alps on your doorstep with everything they offer throughout the year. Here’s some extra food for thought.

New Parents (or parents to be): Check out Birthlight.
Live in a Family-friendly Area: Zurich is a family-friendly city. Most expats with children tend to live near the two international schools on either side of the lake. On the Gold Coast, as the right-hand side of the lake is called, Kusnacht and Zumikon are popular and on the other side of the lake, the Silver Coast, Kilchberg and Thawil draw families. As gardens are a rarity in Zurich, families try and find property near parks. So, areas around Zurich Zoo have green spaces, as does Dolder Forest, Irchel and Uetliberg. Some ground-floor apartments have a shared garden. If you venture outside the city, you will find houses with gardens, at a price.
Find things to do with the kids: In Your Pocket, Zurich for Families, Time Out and Family First all have great ideas for activities and events your kids will love.

13. Moving to Zurich for Work

Moving to Zurich for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. The majority of people already have a job when they move to Switzerland as acquiring a residence permit is almost impossible without a job. Zurich has very high professional standards in all spheres of work. Obviously, banking and finance are the big employers in the city, generating over one-third of the city’s wealth. There are also opportunities in IT, computing and engineering.

Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

Salary: Salaries in Zurich are high. The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale.
How to Find Work: To find a job before you move to Zurich, have a look on the following sites: Jobs in Zurich, The Local, Xpat Jobs and Jobs.ch. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.

14. Moving to Zurich from Australia

There are a number of Australians living in Zurich. If you are considering joining them, here are a few added pointers.

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of the city of Zurich with a town in Australia, you’d be looking at a city 10% larger than the Sunshine Coast. If you look at the population of the whole Zurich metropolitan area, then you’d be looking at a city slightly small than Adelaide.
Join Expat Groups: Both InterNations and Meetup offer ways of meeting up with other Australians in Zurich.

15. Moving to Zurich from Canada

Quite a few Canadians are living in Zurich If you’re considering making the move from Canada here are a few things to consider.

Size Comparison: Zurich’s population in the city proper is around the same as Victoria, BC and its metro population is around the same as Edmonton’s.
Expat Groups: InterNations and Expat.com will give you a chance to meet other Canadians already living and working in Zurich.

16. Moving to Zurich from the United States

There’s a fairly large American contingent living in Zurich. If you’re considering moving to Zurich, here are a few bonus tips:

Size Comparison: Zurich’s population is roughly the same as Honolulu, although the metro area has roughly the same number of people as San Jose.
Expat Groups: InterNations, AICZ and ACZ will introduce you to fellow Americans already living and working in Zurich, helping you to settle in with ease.

17. Moving to Zurich from the United Kingdom

Brits love Zurich, so you’ll find a large group already living and working in the city. If you’re considering moving to Zurich, here are a few bonus tips

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Zurich with a city in the UK, you’d be looking at Fife. The population of the metropolitan area of Zurich is the same as Birmingham.
Expat Groups: InterNations, British Residents of Switzerland and Zurich4You all offer opportunities for you to meet fellow Brits already living in Zurich.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Zurich you can start by comparing moving quotes here.