Moving to Afghanistan from Switzerland

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Switzerland to Afghanistan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dari, Pashto and Turkmen. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kabul averages 67°F vs 55°F in Bern, making it significantly warmer.

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

Get free moving quotes to Afghanistan

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

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CH
0.5
AF
4.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CH
2.4
AF
24.1

Switzerland performs better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CH
$10,602
AF
$330
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CH
44.4
AF
2.5

Afghanistan 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

CH
10.0
AF
143.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CH
3.7t
AF
0.3t

Switzerland generally does better on environment, though Afghanistan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CH
47.1
AF
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CH
6.5%
AF
54.8%

Switzerland performs better than Afghanistan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CH
4.0%
AF
14.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CH
$82,900
AF
$2,000

Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though Afghanistan leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CH
83.2 yrs
AF
53.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CH
3.6
AF
104.9

Switzerland performs better than Afghanistan across all family life metrics.

Data: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Kabul Rain: 12.3 in/yr (312 mm)
67° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bern Kabul
Jan–Mar 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) 45°/25°F (8°/-4°C)
Apr–Jun 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) 76°/48°F (25°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) 88°/56°F (31°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) 59°/31°F (15°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Bern Kabul
Jan 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) 40°/19°F (4.5°/-7.1°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) 42°/22°F (5.5°/-5.7°C)
Mar 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) 54°/33°F (12.5°/0.7°C)
Apr 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) 76°/48°F (24.4°/8.8°C)
Jun 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) 86°/54°F (30.2°/12.4°C)
Jul 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C)
Aug 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) 90°/58°F (32.0°/14.3°C)
Sep 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) 83°/49°F (28.5°/9.4°C)
Oct 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) 72°/39°F (22.4°/3.9°C)
Nov 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) 59°/30°F (15.0°/-1.2°C)
Dec 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) 47°/24°F (8.3°/-4.7°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 Switzerland and Afghanistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Afghanistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Afghanistan's immigration authority.

Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting Afghanistan

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

Afghanistan passport holder visiting Switzerland

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Afghanistan?

With 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Afghanistan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Switzerland and Afghanistan.

Is Afghanistan safe for expats?

Switzerland performs better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Afghanistan is 4.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland.

How is healthcare in Afghanistan compared to Switzerland?

Afghanistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Afghanistan, compared to 44.4 in Switzerland. Afghanistan scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).

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

The average high temperature in Kabul is 67°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Kabul receives around 12.3 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.

What language do they speak in Afghanistan?

The official languages in Afghanistan are Dari, Pashto and Turkmen. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.

Share this

At a Glance

CH AF
Population 8,508,698 38,346,720
Currency Swiss Franc (CHF) Afghan Afghani (AFN)
Languages French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German Dari, Pashto, Turkmen
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +41 +93
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112