Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Switzerland instead of Washington, you would:

Health

be 63.7% less likely to be obese

In Washington, 31.1% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Switzerland, that number is 11.3% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 30.8% more money

Washington has a GDP per capita of $87,768 as of 2024, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $114,769 as of 2025.

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be 68.1% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Washington, 9.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Switzerland, however, that number is 15.8% as of 2021.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: Washington vs. Switzerland

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Switzerland is 24.1% more expensive than Washington
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Size Comparison · See true size
Washington is about 4.2 times bigger than Switzerland.
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Moving from Washington to Switzerland · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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City Size Comparison · See true size
Compare the size of Seattle vs Zurich
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Switzerland: At a glance

Switzerland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 39,997 sq km. The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two world wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
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How big is Switzerland compared to Washington? See an in-depth size comparison.

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