Moving to Pakistan from Switzerland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Switzerland to Pakistan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Switzerland to Pakistan, you would find that Pakistan is 82.9% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF59,770 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly PKR3,520,241 in Pakistan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Urdu. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Islamabad averages 84°F vs 55°F in Bern, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Switzerland to Pakistan.
What does your salary buy?
CHF59,770 → PKR3,520,241
To maintain the same standard of living in Pakistan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 89.7% less
Groceries
pay 81.1% less
Transportation
pay 73.2% less
Housing
pay 83.0% less
Childcare
pay 97.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 80.6% 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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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Switzerland to Pakistan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland performs better than Pakistan across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Pakistan leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Switzerland generally does better on environment, though Pakistan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Switzerland performs better than Pakistan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though Pakistan leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Switzerland performs better than Pakistan 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bern | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) | 69°/44°F (21°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 95°/68°F (35°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 94°/74°F (34°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) | 78°/48°F (26°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bern | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) | 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) | 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C) |
| Mar | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) | 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C) |
| Apr | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) | 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) | 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C) |
| Jun | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) | 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C) |
| Jul | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) | 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C) |
| Aug | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) | 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C) |
| Sep | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) | 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C) |
| Oct | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) | 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C) |
| Nov | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) | 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C) |
| Dec | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) | 68°/40°F (20.2°/4.3°C) |
Data:
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland and Pakistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Pakistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Pakistan's immigration authority.
Switzerland passport holder visiting Pakistan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Pakistan passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Pakistan than Switzerland?
Yes — Pakistan is on average about 83% cheaper than Switzerland. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Pakistan?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly PKR880,060 in Pakistan on a CHF59,770 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Pakistan?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Pakistan has 1.3 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 Pakistan safe for expats?
Switzerland performs better than Pakistan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Pakistan is 4.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland.
How is healthcare in Pakistan compared to Switzerland?
Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Pakistan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 10.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Pakistan, compared to 44.4 in Switzerland. Pakistan scores 45 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).
What's the weather like in Pakistan compared to Switzerland?
The average high temperature in Islamabad is 84°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Islamabad receives around 49.1 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.
What language do they speak in Pakistan?
The official languages in Pakistan are English and Urdu. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
