The cost of living in Switzerland

Cost trends

How to spend it Here’s what (the new) Swiss ten-franc note will get you

Crisp and yellow, the new CHF10 banknote will soon be in circulation across Switzerland. But what can you buy with it?

Cross-border shopping What to do about Switzerland’s eye-watering prices?

Switzerland remains in a price league of its own, driving thrifty shoppers over its borders. Politicians and consumer groups are now demanding action.

“High price” island Strong franc eats away at consumer confidence

By Simon Bradley in Geneva

swissinfo.ch asks shoppers in Geneva what it is like living in a country where Big Macs comparatively cost more than anywhere else in the world.

How much do people make? - wages and salaries

Salaries What do people earn in Switzerland?

By Susan Misicka and Kai Reusser

From baker to banker, Swiss workers earn salaries that must be put into perspective.

Swiss salaries: pastors Why do Swiss clergy earn so much?

By Veronica DeVore

A recently published guide to Swiss salaries revealed some outliers that intrigued our readers, so we looked into them.

Swiss salaries: software developers Do software developers earn less than bus drivers?

By Veronica DeVore

A recent report on Swiss salaries left many wondering whether software developers really only earn a mediocre amount compared to other professions.

Swiss salaries: Teachers How well does Switzerland pay its teachers?

By Veronica DeVore

In a comparison of Swiss salaries, teachers do fairly well with earnings above many other professions. But is there more to the story? According ...

Everyday expenses

Cost of living Zurich is the world’s second most expensive city

Only Singapore is more expensive than Zurich, finds an economic survey that compared the prices of 150 goods in 133 cities.

Covered? Seeking a political cure for rising health costs

By Peter Siegenthaler

Expensive health insurance is a given in Switzerland, and there are concerns that the latest proposals to help rein in costs could prove to be a ...

Disposable income Survey pinpoints least expensive places to live

Switzerland is a notoriously expensive place to live. But a survey on disposable incomes has identified disparities between housing, tax, ...

Off the rails High cost of rail travel "deterring passengers"

For the first time since the 2004 Swiss Federal Railways relaunch, passenger numbers on the rail network have fallen. In the first six months of ...

Import tariffs Why a steak costs so much more to eat in Switzerland

By Matthew Allen

The WTO says import tariffs explain why steak costs twice as much to eat in Switzerland than the EU.

See in other languages: 9

Balancing the books High expenses eat up middle class budget

An average monthly income of more than CHF10,000 ($10,326) for a Swiss family may appear high, but when compulsory deductions are taken away and ...

See in another language: 1

Consumer prices Everyday essentials become costlier despite lower inflation

By Duc-Quang Nguyen

Inflation has fallen in pricey Switzerland, but the cost of some of the more essential things in life keeps going up and up.

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Salaries

What's a fair wage for a middle manager in the pharmaceutical industry? How many hours is the Swiss working week? What is a 13th month salary?

See in other languages: 9

Keeping costs down How to live on less than CHF4,000 a month

(RTS TTC, swissinfo.ch) On May 18 the Swiss will vote on an initiative to introduce a nationwide minimum wage of CHF4,000 ($4,480) per month. Two ...

Highs and lows Is Switzerland really the best place to live and work?

By Matthew Allen

Expat workers tell swissinfo.ch the best and worst points of living and working in Switzerland compared to other countries.

See in other languages: 8

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How far does a franc go?

Cost trends

How to spend it Here’s what (the new) Swiss ten-franc note will get you

Cross-border shopping What to do about Switzerland’s eye-watering prices?

“High price” island Strong franc eats away at consumer confidence

How much do people make? - wages and salaries

Salaries What do people earn in Switzerland?

Swiss salaries: pastors Why do Swiss clergy earn so much?

Swiss salaries: software developers Do software developers earn less than bus drivers?

Swiss salaries: Teachers How well does Switzerland pay its teachers?

Everyday expenses

Cost of living Zurich is the world’s second most expensive city

Covered? Seeking a political cure for rising health costs

Disposable income Survey pinpoints least expensive places to live

Off the rails High cost of rail travel "deterring passengers"

Additional content about the topic

Import tariffs Why a steak costs so much more to eat in Switzerland

Balancing the books High expenses eat up middle class budget

Consumer prices Everyday essentials become costlier despite lower inflation

Salaries

Keeping costs down How to live on less than CHF4,000 a month

Highs and lows Is Switzerland really the best place to live and work?

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