Moving to Switzerland from Texas
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Texas to Switzerland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Texas to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 79.5% more expensive than Texas. A $75,000 salary in Texas would need to be roughly CHF111,571 in Switzerland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bern averages 55°F vs 79°F in Austin, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Texas to Switzerland.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CHF111,571
To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 98.8% more
Groceries
pay 59.9% more
Transportation
pay 2.1 times more
Housing
pay 18.4% more
Childcare
pay 97.2% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 69.6% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Switzerland cost about 66% more than cities in Texas.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Switzerland
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
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Texas to Switzerland, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Texas to Switzerland.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Switzerland performs significantly better than Texas across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Switzerland performs significantly better than Texas 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
Texas generally does better on employment & economy, though Switzerland leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Switzerland performs significantly better than Texas across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Austin | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 65°/40°F (18°/5°C) | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 85°/63°F (29°/17°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 93°/70°F (34°/21°C) | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Austin | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61°/37°F (15.9°/2.9°C) | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 64°/39°F (17.6°/3.8°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 71°/45°F (21.6°/7.4°C) | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) |
| Apr | 79°/55°F (25.9°/12.8°C) | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) |
| May | 85°/64°F (29.7°/17.7°C) | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 91°/70°F (32.8°/21.0°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) |
| Jul | 94°/72°F (34.7°/22.3°C) | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) |
| Aug | 96°/72°F (35.4°/22.1°C) | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) |
| Sep | 90°/67°F (32.3°/19.2°C) | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) |
| Oct | 81°/57°F (27.3°/13.7°C) | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) |
| Nov | 71°/47°F (21.4°/8.4°C) | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) |
| Dec | 62°/38°F (16.5°/3.4°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Switzerland. To live, work, or study long-term in Switzerland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Switzerland's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa Free
Switzerland passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Switzerland than Texas?
No — Switzerland is on average about 85% more expensive than Texas. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CHF27,893 in Switzerland on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Switzerland?
Usually fine from major cities in Switzerland. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Texas?
Switzerland performs significantly better than Texas across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Texas?
The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 79°F in Austin. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Austin gets 36.2 in.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Texas, the official language is English.
