Moving to Louisiana from Switzerland

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Switzerland to Louisiana, you would find that Louisiana is 42.2% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF60,717 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly $39,145 in Louisiana to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Baton Rouge averages 79°F vs 55°F in Bern, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

CHF60,717 $39,145

To maintain the same standard of living in Louisiana

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 52.8% less

Groceries

pay 19.3% less

Transportation

pay 52.9% less

Housing

pay 21.6% less

Childcare

pay 57.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 37.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 CHF = 1.24 USD (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 Switzerland to Louisiana.

Moved in 2023
490 ↓ 8% vs 2022

people moved from Switzerland to United States · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United States?

Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Louisiana compared to Switzerland.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate The World Factbook, 2022

share of adults with obesity

CH
19.5%
LA
40.6%

Switzerland performs better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access The World Factbook, 2023

share of households with internet

CH
96.0%
LA
84.9%

Switzerland performs better than Louisiana across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CH
4.0%
LA
3.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

CH
$82,900
LA
$55,662

Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though Louisiana leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CH
83.2 yrs
LA
73.1 yrs

Switzerland performs better than Louisiana across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook

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

Baton Rouge Rain: 60.6 in/yr (1540 mm)
79° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bern Baton Rouge
Jan–Mar 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) 67°/45°F (19°/7°C)
Apr–Jun 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) 85°/64°F (30°/18°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) 91°/72°F (33°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) 72°/50°F (22°/10°C)
View all months
Month Bern Baton Rouge
Jan 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) 66°/44°F (18.7°/6.9°C)
Mar 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) 73°/50°F (22.6°/10.2°C)
Apr 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) 79°/57°F (26.3°/13.8°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.4°C)
Jun 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) 91°/71°F (32.7°/21.9°C)
Jul 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) 92°/74°F (33.4°/23.2°C)
Aug 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) 92°/73°F (33.6°/23.0°C)
Sep 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) 89°/69°F (31.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) 81°/58°F (27.1°/14.4°C)
Nov 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C)
Dec 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) 64°/43°F (17.8°/5.9°C)

Data: MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.

Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Switzerland passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.
United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Switzerland

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Switzerland without a visa.

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 Louisiana than Switzerland?

On average Louisiana is about 48% less expensive than Switzerland, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Louisiana?

Budget about $9,786 for 3 months in Louisiana (based on a CHF60,717 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Louisiana?

From major Louisiana cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Switzerland and Louisiana are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Louisiana compared to Switzerland?

Switzerland performs better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Baton Rouge is 79°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Baton Rouge receives around 60.6 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.

What language do they speak in Louisiana?

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

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At a Glance

CH
Population 8,508,698 4,533,372
Currency Swiss Franc (CHF) United States Dollar ($)
Languages French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +41 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 112 911