Moving to Lausanne
Olympic capital, university town and terraces with views of Lake Geneva.
Lausanne is the second city in French-speaking Switzerland and a leading university center with EPFL (Federal Polytechnic School) and the University of Lausanne. Headquarters of the International Olympic Committee, the city combines economic dynamism and a spectacular living environment between Lake Geneva and the Lavaux vineyards, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
The Lausanne real estate market is tight but slightly more accessible than Geneva. The city is attracting more and more tech startups around the EPFL Innovation Park.
Lausanne, Olympic city and innovation hub
Lausanne, with its 145,000 inhabitants and an urban area of 420,000 people, is the second city in French-speaking Switzerland. Headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 1915, it bears the title of “Olympic Capital”. The city also hosts more than 50 international sports federations.
EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), ranked in the world's top 20 technical universities, is the driving force behind an exceptional innovation ecosystem. The EPFL Innovation Park is home to more than 200 startups and R&D centers from Nestlé, Logitech and Intel. The city has become a European hub for artificial intelligence and sustainable technologies.
Built on three terraced hills above Lake Geneva, Lausanne offers a spectacular setting with permanent views of the Alps and the lake. The Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, extend just to the east of the town.
The districts of Lausanne and surrounding areas
The Lausanne real estate market is tight but more accessible than Geneva (rents 15 to 20% lower). The hilly topography structures neighborhoods in a unique way.
Ouchy and the lakeside
The most popular district of Lausanne, on the shores of Lake Geneva. The port of Ouchy, the Olympic Museum and the quays offer an exceptional living environment. Rents are the highest in the city: CHF 2,500 to CHF 3,500 for a 3.5 room apartment.
Sub-station and Flon
The Flon district, a former warehouse converted into a trendy district, is the heart of nightlife and shopping. The Sous-Gare offers quick access to the CFF station and the M2 metro. Rent: CHF 2,200 to CHF 3,000 for a 3.5 room apartment.
Pully and Lutry
To the east of Lausanne, these residential communities offer a quiet setting with a view of the lake and proximity to the Lavaux vineyards. Well served by train, they are popular with families. Rent: CHF 2,000 to CHF 2,800.
Prilly, Renens and West Lausanne
West Lausanne is experiencing rapid development, driven by the proximity of EPFL and UNIL. Rents are 20 to 30% lower in the center: CHF 1,600 to CHF 2,200 for a 3.5 room apartment. The M1 metro directly connects the campus to the city center.
Cost of living in Lausanne
Lausanne is less expensive than Geneva and Zurich, with a cantonal median salary of around CHF 6,800 gross per month. The quality of life/cost ratio is one of the best in French-speaking Switzerland.
| Expenditure item | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Rent 3.5 rooms (center) | CHF 2,200 — 3,000 |
| Rent 3.5 rooms (West Lausanne) | CHF 1,600 — 2,200 |
| Health insurance (adult) | CHF 400 — 520 |
| TL subscription (metro + bus) | CHF72 |
| Power supply (torque) | CHF 750 — 1,100 |
| Nursery (full-time, subsidized) | CHF 1,200 — 2,200 |
| Meals at the restaurant | CHF 22 — 40 |
Transport and mobility in Lausanne
Lausanne is one of the few cities in the world to have an automatic metro. The M2, which climbs the hill from the city center to the Sauvabelin plateau, carries more than 100,000 passengers per day. The M1 connects Flon to UNIL/EPFL. An M3 project is in development to strengthen the network.
TL (Transports Lausannois) buses complete the network with more than 40 lines. The CFF train connects Lausanne to Geneva in 40 minutes, to Bern in 70 minutes and to Zurich in 2 hours 10 minutes. Lausanne station is an important railway junction on the Geneva-Milan axis.
The closest airport is Geneva (GVA), accessible in 45 minutes by direct train. Direct shuttles also connect Lausanne to Zurich airport for intercontinental flights.
Quality of life and culture in Lausanne
Lausanne is a young and dynamic city, driven by its student population (more than 30,000 students between EPFL, UNIL and specialized schools). Cultural life is rich: the Festival de la Cité, the Montreux Jazz Festival (25 minutes by train), the Prix de Lausanne for dance and the BDFIL (comic strip festival) enliven the city all year round.
Sport is omnipresent: Lake Geneva offers opportunities for sailing, swimming and paddle, the Pre-Alps are 45 minutes away for skiing. Lausanne has received the title of “European City of Sport” on several occasions.
Integration is facilitated by the use of French on a daily basis. The expatriate community is large, particularly around EPFL and international sports organizations. The city is safe, clean and offers a network of quality nurseries and schools, including several international schools (Ecolint La Châtaigneraie, École Française de Lausanne).
Highlights
Academic and tech center
EPFL is one of the best polytechnic schools in the world. The Innovation Park welcomes startups, research labs and tech giants.
Olympic capital
Headquarters of the IOC and many international sports federations. Sport is at the heart of Lausanne’s identity.
Lavaux Vineyards
The wine terraces of Lavaux, between Lausanne and Vevey, are listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. A unique landscape in the world.
French-speaking cultural life
Theaters, festivals (Lausanne Underground Film Festival, BDFIL), gastronomy and lively nightlife in the Flon district.
Settling in Lausanne
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