Moving to Switzerland from Washington
What to Expect
Considering a move from Washington to Switzerland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Washington to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 58.7% more expensive than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly CHF96,191 in Switzerland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Washington and Switzerland.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CHF96,191
To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 87.4% more
Groceries
pay 36.6% more
Transportation
pay 87.0% more
Housing
pay 7.1% more
Childcare
pay 47.1% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 39.2% 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 33% more than cities in Washington.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Washington to Switzerland.
people moved from United States to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Switzerland compared to Washington.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Switzerland performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Switzerland performs significantly better than Washington 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
Washington generally does better on employment & economy, though Switzerland leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Switzerland performs significantly better than Washington 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 | Olympia | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Olympia | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) |
| Apr | 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) |
| May | 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) |
| Jul | 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) |
| Aug | 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) |
| Sep | 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) |
| Nov | 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) |
| Dec | 44°/33°F (6.8°/0.3°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 Washington?
On average Switzerland is around 60% pricier than Washington, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?
Budget about CHF24,048 for 3 months in Switzerland (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Switzerland?
From major Switzerland cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Washington and Switzerland are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Washington?
Switzerland performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Washington?
The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Washington, the official language is English.
