Moving to Palau from Switzerland

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Switzerland to Palau — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Switzerland to Palau, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Palauan.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Switzerland and Palau stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CH
0.5
PW
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CH
2.4
PW
22.2

Switzerland performs better than Palau across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CH
$10,602
PW
$1,857
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CH
44.4
PW
17.8

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

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CH
3.7t
PW
82.8t

Switzerland performs better than Palau 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
PW
6.9

Switzerland performs better than Palau 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%
PW
1.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CH
$82,900
PW
$15,800

Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though Palau 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
PW
74.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CH
3.6
PW
11.3

Switzerland generally does better on family life, though Palau leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting Palau

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

Palau passport holder visiting Switzerland

Visa Free
Palau 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

Can I work remotely from Palau?

With 6.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Palau can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Switzerland and Palau.

Is Palau safe for expats?

Switzerland performs better than Palau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Palau is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland.

How is healthcare in Palau compared to Switzerland?

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Palau leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Palau, compared to 44.4 in Switzerland. Palau scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).

What language do they speak in Palau?

The official languages in Palau are English and Palauan. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.

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At a Glance

CH PW
Population 8,508,698 21,695
Currency Swiss Franc (CHF) United States Dollar ($)
Languages French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German English, Palauan
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +41 +680
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112