Moving to Zurich

Zurich is the economic locomotive of Switzerland. With its banks, insurance companies, tech startups and the headquarters of Google Europe, the city attracts talent from all over the world. But Zurich is also a remarkable living environment: crystal clear lake, mountains an hour away, picturesque old town and vibrant cultural scene.

The counterpart is one of the highest costs of living in the world and an extremely tight rental market. The housing vacancy rate is less than 1%. Our support gives you a decisive advantage to settle in in the best conditions.

Zurich, economic capital of Switzerland

With more than 436,000 inhabitants and an urban area of ​​1.4 million people, Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and its main economic engine. The city regularly ranks in the top 3 cities offering the best quality of life in the world (Mercer, Monocle). It alone accounts for nearly 20% of the national GDP.

Zurich is home to major banks (UBS, Swiss Re, Zurich Insurance), tech giants (Google, Microsoft, IBM Research), and a thriving startup ecosystem powered by ETH Zurich, one of the world's top technical universities. The fintech and cybersecurity sector has experienced particularly strong growth since 2020.

The city is also a major cultural hub: the Opera, the Kunsthaus, the Swiss National Museum and a vibrant alternative scene in the Kreis 4 and Kreis 5 districts make Zurich a leading cultural metropolis.

The best neighborhoods to settle in Zurich

The choice of neighborhood in Zurich depends on your lifestyle, your budget and your workplace. Here is an overview of the neighborhoods most popular with expatriates.

Cost of living in Zurich

Zurich is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but salaries are correspondingly high. The median salary in the canton of Zurich is around CHF 7,800 gross per month. Here is an overview of the main expenditure items for a household.

Transport and mobility in Zurich

Zurich's public transport network (ZVV) is considered one of the best in the world. It includes the S-Bahn (regional trains), 15 tram lines, more than 60 bus lines and boats on the lake. Punctuality exceeds 97% and frequency is high, with trams every 5 to 10 minutes during the day.

The monthly subscription for zone 110 (city of Zurich) costs CHF 87. The AG (general subscription) at CHF 3,860 per year gives access to the entire Swiss network. The half-fare (CHF 185/year) halves the price of all tickets.

The city is investing heavily in cycling infrastructure. Bike sharing (Züri Velo) is available across the city. As for cars, parking in the center is limited and expensive (CHF 3 to 5 per hour). Zurich Airport (ZRH) can be reached in 10 minutes by direct train from the main station.

Quality of life and integration in Zurich

Zurich offers an exceptional living environment: the lake is swimmable in summer (more than 30 free public baths), the Alps can be reached in an hour, and the city has more than 50 museums and galleries. Bahnhofstrasse is one of the most prestigious shopping avenues in Europe.

Social integration involves learning Swiss-German (Züridütsch). Although English is widely used in the professional environment, daily life takes place in the Alemannic dialect. The municipality of Zurich offers subsidized German courses for new residents.

The city is extremely safe (crime rates among the lowest in Europe), clean and well organized. Families benefit from a dense network of nurseries, quality public schools and varied sporting and cultural activities. The unemployment rate in the canton is approximately 2.3%.