Moving to Switzerland from Germany
What to Expect
Considering a move from Germany to Switzerland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Germany to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 90.9% more expensive than Germany overall. A €65,577 salary in Germany would need to be roughly CHF105,743 in Switzerland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Germany and Switzerland.
What does your salary buy?
€65,577 → CHF105,743
To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 70.0% more
Groceries
pay 61.7% more
Transportation
pay 48.2% more
Housing
pay 57.1% more
Childcare
pay 3.7 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 72.5% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Switzerland cost about 69% more than cities in Germany.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Germany to Switzerland.
people moved from Germany to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Switzerland compared to Germany.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in feel safe walking at night.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in adult obesity rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Switzerland performs significantly better than Germany across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Switzerland performs significantly better than Germany across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though Germany leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Switzerland generally does better on family life, though Germany leads in infant mortality.
Data: Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Berlin | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Berlin | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) |
| Apr | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) |
| May | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) |
| Jul | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) |
| Oct | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) |
| Nov | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) |
| Dec | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
Deutscher Wetterdienst,
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Germany 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.
Germany passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa Free
Switzerland passport holder visiting Germany
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Switzerland than Germany?
On average Switzerland is around 74% pricier than Germany, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?
Budget about CHF26,436 for 3 months in Switzerland (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Switzerland?
Connectivity is usually fine (Switzerland: 47.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Switzerland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Switzerland safe for expats?
Switzerland generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Germany. About 72% of people in Switzerland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Germany?
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in adult obesity rate. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 45.2 in Germany. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Germany: 88).
What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Germany?
The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Germany, the official language is German.
