Moving to Switzerland from New Jersey
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Jersey to Switzerland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Jersey to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 46.6% more expensive than New Jersey. A $75,000 salary in New Jersey would need to be roughly CHF86,936 in Switzerland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from New Jersey to Switzerland.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CHF86,936
To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 87.5% more
Groceries
pay 20.2% more
Transportation
pay 78.6% more
Housing
pay 3.1% more
Childcare
pay 27.9% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 33.5% 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 19% more than cities in New Jersey.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from New Jersey to Switzerland, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Jersey to Switzerland.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Switzerland performs significantly better than New Jersey across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Switzerland performs significantly better than New Jersey across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though New Jersey leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Switzerland performs significantly better than New Jersey across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Trenton | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 44°/27°F (7°/-3°C) | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 71°/51°F (22°/10°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/36°F (12°/2°C) | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Trenton | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°/23°F (3.9°/-4.9°C) | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 42°/26°F (5.7°/-3.4°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 51°/32°F (10.5°/-0.1°C) | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) |
| Apr | 61°/41°F (16.3°/5.0°C) | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) |
| May | 72°/51°F (22.1°/10.3°C) | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 81°/60°F (27.1°/15.7°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) |
| Jul | 85°/66°F (29.6°/18.9°C) | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) |
| Aug | 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.9°C) | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) |
| Sep | 76°/56°F (24.5°/13.6°C) | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) |
| Oct | 65°/44°F (18.3°/6.8°C) | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) |
| Nov | 54°/37°F (12.5°/2.7°C) | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) |
| Dec | 43°/28°F (6.2°/-2.4°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa Free
Switzerland passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 New Jersey?
No — Switzerland is on average about 43% more expensive than New Jersey. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CHF21,734 in Switzerland on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Switzerland?
Usually fine from major cities in Switzerland. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to New Jersey?
Switzerland performs significantly better than New Jersey across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to New Jersey?
The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 63°F in Trenton. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Trenton gets 46.5 in.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In New Jersey, the official language is English.
