Moving to Iran from Switzerland

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Switzerland to Iran — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Switzerland to Iran, you would find that Iran is 76.8% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF60,626 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly IRR38,028,334,500 in Iran to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Persian (Farsi). Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tehran averages 72°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 ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Switzerland to Iran.

What does your salary buy?

CHF60,626 IRR38,028,334,500

To maintain the same standard of living in Iran

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 83.3% less

Groceries

pay 77.0% less

Transportation

pay 47.7% less

Housing

pay 85.5% less

Childcare

pay 97.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 86.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 CHF = 1700703.42 IRR (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.

Get free moving quotes to Iran

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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Switzerland to Iran.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CH
0.5
IR
2.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CH
2.4
IR
20.6

Switzerland performs better than Iran across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CH
$10,602
IR
$1,064
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CH
44.4
IR
15.1

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iran leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CH
10.0
IR
51.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CH
3.7t
IR
9.1t

Switzerland performs better than Iran across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CH
47.1
IR
12.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CH
6.5%
IR
81.3%

Switzerland performs better than Iran 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%
IR
9.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CH
$82,900
IR
$16,200

Switzerland performs better than Iran across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CH
83.2 yrs
IR
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CH
3.6
IR
14.8

Switzerland performs better than Iran across all family life metrics.

Data: 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

Tehran Rain: 9.1 in/yr (230 mm)
72° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bern Tehran
Jan–Mar 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) 52°/35°F (11°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) 82°/61°F (28°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) 94°/72°F (35°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) 62°/44°F (17°/7°C)
View all months
Month Bern Tehran
Jan 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) 45°/30°F (7.2°/-1.1°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) 50°/33°F (9.9°/0.7°C)
Mar 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) 60°/41°F (15.4°/5.2°C)
Apr 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) 71°/52°F (21.9°/10.9°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.1°C)
Jun 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) 93°/70°F (34.1°/20.9°C)
Jul 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) 98°/75°F (36.8°/24.0°C)
Aug 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) 96°/73°F (35.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.2°C)
Oct 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C)
Nov 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.7°C)
Dec 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.3°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 Iran. To live, work, or study long-term in Iran, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iran's immigration authority.

Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting Iran

Visa on Arrival
Switzerland passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Iran.
Iran passport

Iran passport holder visiting Switzerland

Visa Required
Iran 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

Is it cheaper to live in Iran than Switzerland?

Yes — Iran is on average about 63% cheaper than Switzerland. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Iran?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly IRR9,507,083,625 in Iran on a CHF60,626 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Iran?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Iran has 12.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Iran safe for expats?

Switzerland performs better than Iran across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iran is 2.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland.

How is healthcare in Iran compared to Switzerland?

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iran leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 15.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iran, compared to 44.4 in Switzerland. Iran scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).

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

The average high temperature in Tehran is 72°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Tehran receives around 9.1 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.

What language do they speak in Iran?

The official language in Iran is Persian (Farsi). In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.

Share this

At a Glance

CH IR
Population 8,508,698 86,758,304
Currency Swiss Franc (CHF) Iranian Rial (IRR)
Languages French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German Persian (Farsi)
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +41 +98
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 115