Moving to Switzerland from Portugal
What to Expect
Considering a move from Portugal to Switzerland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Portugal to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 2.5 times more expensive than Portugal overall. A €65,577 salary in Portugal would need to be roughly CHF120,323 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 69°F in Lisbon, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Portugal and Switzerland.
What does your salary buy?
€65,577 → CHF120,323
To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.6 times more
Groceries
pay 2.2 times more
Transportation
pay 2.2 times more
Housing
pay 84.3% more
Childcare
pay 4.2 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.6 times 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 96% more than cities in Portugal.
Compare cities head-to-head
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?
What the data shows about people moving from Portugal to Switzerland.
people moved from Portugal to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Switzerland compared to Portugal.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland performs significantly better than Portugal across all safety metrics.
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
Portugal 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
Portugal performs better than Switzerland 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 Portugal 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 performs significantly better than Portugal across all employment & economy metrics.
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 Portugal leads in infant mortality.
Data: Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, 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 | Lisbon | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lisbon | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) |
| Apr | 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) |
| May | 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) |
| Jul | 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) |
| Aug | 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) |
| Sep | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) |
| Oct | 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) |
| Nov | 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) |
| Dec | 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera,
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Portugal 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.
Portugal passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa Free
Switzerland passport holder visiting Portugal
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 Portugal?
On average Switzerland is around 99% pricier than Portugal, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?
Budget about CHF30,081 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 performs significantly better than Portugal across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Portugal.
How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Portugal?
Portugal 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 57.7 in Portugal. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Portugal: 88).
What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Portugal?
The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 69°F in Lisbon. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Lisbon gets 29.6 in.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Portugal, the official language is Portuguese.
