Emigrating to Switzerland: finance hints and tips
Money is an important topic for anyone considering emigrating to Switzerland. Here you’ll find information you need to know about finances.
Expenses in Switzerland
Switzerland is known for its high salaries – but expenses are also higher.
There are costs that everyone in Switzerland should expect to pay. These include:
Apart from the mandatory costs, there are other expenses:
Your personal expenses: these include, for example, food and clothing.
Supplemental insurance: basic health insurance does not cover all medical costs. For example, visits to the dentist are not included in the catalogue of benefits. For these additional costs, you can take out a supplemental insurance policy.
Public transport: public transport is well developed in Switzerland. If you travel a lot by bus, tram or train, a travel pass may be worthwhile. In addition, many people in Switzerland have a half-fare travelcard, a kind of discount card for public transport.
Childcare: compulsory school is free. However, childcare is expensive by international standards: a daycare place costs 130 francs per day per child.
More about costs in Switzerland
Calculate withholding tax
Swiss nationals pay their taxes at the end of the year. For this purpose, they fill in a tax return once a year. Foreign workers (without a C permit) pay what’s known as a withholding tax deducted from their income. This means they don’t have to complete a tax return.
More tips for expats
Find more information about relocating to Switzerland here.
