Moving to Germany from Switzerland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Switzerland to Germany? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Switzerland to Germany, you would find that Germany is 38.4% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF60,717 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly €37,737 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German. A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Switzerland and Germany. What does your salary buy? CHF60,717 → €37,737 To maintain the same standard of living in Germany How key spending categories compare Restaurants pay 40.6% less Groceries pay 35.8% less Transportation pay 29.6% less Housing pay 23.6% less Childcare pay 66.0% less Entertainment and Sports pay 38.2% less 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 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 Germany cost about 41% less than cities in Switzerland. Compare cities head-to-head 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. What the data shows about people moving from Switzerland to Germany. people moved from Switzerland to Germany · OECD (latest data available) The numbers behind daily life in Germany compared to Switzerland. 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. 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. deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year Switzerland performs better than Germany across all environment metrics. 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 better than Germany across all infrastructure metrics. 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. 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: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Data: Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland and Germany. To live, work, or study long-term in Germany, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Germany's immigration authority. Switzerland passport holder visiting Germany Germany passport holder visiting Switzerland Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements. On average Germany is about 43% less expensive than Switzerland, with major cities narrowing the gap. Budget about €9,434 for 3 months in Germany (based on a CHF60,717 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees. Connectivity is usually fine (Germany: 45.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Germany offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident? Switzerland generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland. About 72% of people in Germany feel safe walking alone at night. Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in adult obesity rate. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 44.4 in Switzerland. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86). The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in. The official language in Germany is German. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. How Far Will Your Money Go?
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Bern Berlin Jan–Mar 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) Apr–Jun 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) Jul–Sep 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) Oct–Dec 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) View all months
Month Bern Berlin Jan 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) Mar 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) Apr 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) May 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) Jun 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) Jul 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) Aug 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) Sep 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) Oct 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) Nov 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) Dec 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) 
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, 
Deutscher Wetterdienst Visitor Visa Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
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