Moving to Switzerland from Nigeria

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Nigeria to Switzerland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Nigeria to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 8.3 times more expensive than Nigeria overall. A NGN103,376,008 salary in Nigeria would need to be roughly CHF190,537 in Switzerland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bern averages 55°F vs 91°F in Abuja, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Nigeria and Switzerland.

What does your salary buy?

NGN103,376,008 CHF190,537

To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 10.8 times more

Groceries

pay 2.8 times more

Transportation

pay 3.2 times more

Housing

pay 3.8 times more

Childcare

pay 27.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 5.4 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 NGN = 0.0006 CHF (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Nigeria to Switzerland.

Moved in 2023
225 ↑ 4% vs 2022

people moved from Nigeria 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

The numbers behind daily life in Switzerland compared to Nigeria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NG
21.7
CH
0.5
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

NG
79%
CH
72%

Switzerland generally does better on safety, though Nigeria leads in feel safe walking at night.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

NG
$260
CH
$10,602
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NG
3.9
CH
44.4

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NG
77.0
CH
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NG
0.6t
CH
3.7t

Nigeria 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

NG
0.0
CH
47.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NG
9.7%
CH
6.5%

Switzerland performs significantly better than Nigeria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NG
3.1%
CH
4.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NG
$5,700
CH
$82,900

Nigeria generally does better on employment & economy, though Switzerland leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NG
61.3 yrs
CH
83.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NG
56.7
CH
3.6

Switzerland performs significantly better than Nigeria across all family life metrics.

Data: Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Abuja Rain: 48.1 in/yr (1221 mm)
91° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Abuja Bern
Jan–Mar 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) 70°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) 46°/36°F (8°/2°C)
View all months
Month Abuja Bern
Jan 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C)
Feb 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C)
Mar 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C)
Apr 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C)
May 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C)
Jul 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C)
Sep 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C)
Oct 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C)
Nov 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C)
Dec 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C)

Data: Nigerian Meteorological Agency Nigerian Meteorological Agency, MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Nigeria 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.

Nigeria passport

Nigeria passport holder visiting Switzerland

Visa Required
Nigeria passport holders need a visa to enter Switzerland.
Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting Nigeria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Switzerland passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Nigeria.

Data: 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 Nigeria?

On average Switzerland is around 214% pricier than Nigeria, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?

Budget about CHF47,634 for 3 months in Switzerland (based on a NGN103,376,008 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 Nigeria leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 21.7 in Nigeria. About 72% of people in Switzerland feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Nigeria?

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 3.9 in Nigeria. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nigeria: 38).

What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Nigeria?

The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 91°F in Abuja. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Abuja gets 48.1 in.

What language do they speak in Switzerland?

The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Nigeria, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

NG CH
Population 225,082,083 8,508,698
Currency Nigerian Naira (NGN) Swiss Franc (CHF)
Languages English French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +234 +41
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112