Moving to Saudi Arabia from Switzerland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Switzerland to Saudi Arabia? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Switzerland to Saudi Arabia, you would find that Saudi Arabia is 57.7% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF58,584 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly SAR114,659 in Saudi Arabia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riyadh averages 92°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 Saudi Arabia.
What does your salary buy?
CHF58,584 → SAR114,659
To maintain the same standard of living in Saudi Arabia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 79.9% less
Groceries
pay 53.0% less
Transportation
pay 59.6% less
Housing
pay 44.6% less
Childcare
pay 83.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 35.6% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Saudi Arabia
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
The numbers behind daily life in Saudi Arabia compared to Switzerland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland performs better than Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia 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 performs better than Saudi Arabia across all environment metrics.
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 generally does better on infrastructure, though Saudi Arabia leads in electricity per capita.
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 Saudi Arabia 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 generally does better on family life, though Saudi Arabia leads in education spending.
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 | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) | 75°/50°F (24°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 101°/72°F (38°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 109°/77°F (43°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) | 84°/56°F (29°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bern | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) | 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) | 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C) |
| Apr | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) | 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) | 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C) |
| Jun | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) | 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) | 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C) |
| Aug | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C) |
| Sep | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) | 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C) |
| Oct | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) | 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C) |
| Nov | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) | 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C) |
| Dec | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) | 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C) |
Data:
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology,
National Center for Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland and Saudi Arabia. To live, work, or study long-term in Saudi Arabia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Saudi Arabia's immigration authority.
Switzerland passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia
Visa on Arrival
Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia than Switzerland?
On average Saudi Arabia is about 59% less expensive than Switzerland, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Saudi Arabia?
Budget about SAR28,665 for 3 months in Saudi Arabia (based on a CHF58,584 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Saudi Arabia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Saudi Arabia: 37.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Saudi Arabia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Saudi Arabia safe for expats?
Switzerland performs better than Saudi Arabia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Saudi Arabia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland.
How is healthcare in Saudi Arabia compared to Switzerland?
Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 30.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Saudi Arabia, compared to 44.4 in Switzerland. Saudi Arabia scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).
What's the weather like in Saudi Arabia compared to Switzerland?
The average high temperature in Riyadh is 92°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Riyadh receives around 4.4 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.
What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?
The official language in Saudi Arabia is Arabic. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
