Moving to Switzerland from Cabo Verde

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Cabo Verde to Switzerland — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Cabo Verde to Switzerland, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bern averages 55°F vs 79°F in Praia, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Switzerland

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Cabo Verde to Switzerland, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
84 ↑ 56% vs 2022

people moved from Cabo Verde to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Switzerland?

Top countries of origin for Switzerland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Cabo Verde and Switzerland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CV
6.2
CH
0.5
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

CV
52%
CH
72%

Switzerland performs significantly better than Cabo Verde across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CV
$616
CH
$10,602
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CV
44.6
CH
44.4

Cabo Verde generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CV
59.0
CH
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CV
1.3t
CH
3.7t

Cabo Verde generally does better on environment, though Switzerland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CV
5.8
CH
47.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CV
57.2%
CH
6.5%

Switzerland performs significantly better than Cabo Verde across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CV
12.0%
CH
4.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CV
$8,200
CH
$82,900

Switzerland performs significantly better than Cabo Verde across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CV
73.8 yrs
CH
83.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CV
23.5
CH
3.6

Switzerland generally does better on family life, though Cabo Verde leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Praia Rain: 2.8 in/yr (70 mm)
79° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bern Rain: 42.8 in/yr (1086 mm)
55° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Praia Bern
Jan–Mar 76°/None°F (24°/None°C) 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/None°F (25°/None°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/None°F (28°/None°C) 70°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/None°F (27°/None°C) 46°/36°F (8°/2°C)
View all months
Month Praia Bern
Jan 75°/None°F (24.0°/None°C) 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C)
Feb 75°/None°F (24.1°/None°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C)
Mar 77°/None°F (24.8°/None°C) 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C)
Apr 77°/None°F (24.8°/None°C) 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C)
May 78°/None°F (25.3°/None°C) 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C)
Jun 79°/None°F (26.0°/None°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C)
Jul 81°/None°F (27.2°/None°C) 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C)
Aug 84°/None°F (28.8°/None°C) 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C)
Sep 85°/None°F (29.3°/None°C) 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C)
Oct 83°/None°F (28.6°/None°C) 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C)
Nov 81°/None°F (27.3°/None°C) 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C)
Dec 77°/None°F (25.2°/None°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C)

Data: MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cabo Verde and Switzerland. To live, work, or study long-term in Switzerland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Switzerland's immigration authority.

Cabo Verde passport

Cabo Verde passport holder visiting Switzerland

Visa Required
Cabo Verde passport holders need a visa to enter Switzerland.
Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting Cabo Verde

Visa on Arrival
Switzerland passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Cabo Verde.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Switzerland?

With 47.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Switzerland can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Cabo Verde and Switzerland.

Is Switzerland safe for expats?

Switzerland performs significantly better than Cabo Verde across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.2 in Cabo Verde. About 72% of people in Switzerland feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Cabo Verde?

Cabo Verde generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in health coverage index. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 44.6 in Cabo Verde. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cabo Verde: 71).

What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Cabo Verde?

The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 79°F in Praia. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Praia gets 2.8 in.

What language do they speak in Switzerland?

The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Cabo Verde, the official language is Portuguese.

Share this

At a Glance

CV CH
Population 596,707 8,508,698
Currency Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE) Swiss Franc (CHF)
Languages Portuguese French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +238 +41
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112