Moving to Minnesota from Switzerland
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Switzerland to Minnesota — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Switzerland to Minnesota, you would find that Minnesota is 35.4% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF61,393 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly $41,498 in Minnesota to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Switzerland to Minnesota.
What does your salary buy?
CHF61,393 → $41,498
To maintain the same standard of living in Minnesota
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 48.6% less
Groceries
pay 9.3% less
Transportation
pay 47.2% less
Housing
pay 19.9% less
Childcare
pay 42.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 29.3% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Switzerland to Minnesota, and how the trend has changed.
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.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
94.47,989
Switzerland
Key Indicator Comparison
How Switzerland and Minnesota stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Switzerland performs better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Switzerland performs better than Minnesota across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though Minnesota leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Switzerland performs better than Minnesota across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bern | Saint Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) | 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 69°/50°F (21°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) | 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bern | Saint Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) | 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) | 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C) |
| Mar | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) | 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C) |
| Apr | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) | 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) | 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C) |
| Jun | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) |
| Jul | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) | 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C) |
| Aug | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) | 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C) |
| Sep | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) | 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C) |
| Oct | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) | 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C) |
| Nov | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) | 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C) |
| Dec | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) | 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C) |
Data:
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology,
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 holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holder visiting Switzerland
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 Minnesota than Switzerland?
Generally yes: Minnesota runs about 45% cheaper than Switzerland on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Minnesota?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a CHF61,393 comparable salary, that's around $10,374 in Minnesota for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Minnesota?
Working remotely from Minnesota's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Switzerland and Minnesota.
How is healthcare in Minnesota compared to Switzerland?
Switzerland performs better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Minnesota compared to Switzerland?
The average high temperature in Saint Paul is 56°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Saint Paul receives around 28.5 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.
What language do they speak in Minnesota?
The official language in Minnesota is English. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
