Where I Can Live
Flag of Switzerland

Europe · German, French, Italian · updated 2026-10

Moving to Switzerland: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $4,200 a month to live in Zurich, and a family of four about $9,050, including rent. Switzerland usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 10 yrs, with citizenship after 10 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Lump-sum taxation residence.

Monthly budget
$4,200
Very high cost
Safety
83
Very safe
Stability
92
Very stable
Family
85
Excellent
Main city
Zurich
Language
German, French, Italian
Permanent residence
10 yrs
Citizenship
10 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
No
What can your passport do in Switzerland?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Switzerland, per month in US$

One person
$4,200
Family of four
$9,050
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Zurich centre
$2,300
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$4,250
Estimate
Price level
128
US = 100
Income per person
$9,194
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
83
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.6
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+1.12
Rule of law+1.74
Control of corruption+1.98
Government effectiveness+1.97
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (92/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
85
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.756
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
3.9
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
84.4 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$11,784
per person / year
Education spending
4.9%
of GDP

Childcare is expensive, and health insurance is mandatory and private, per person.

Visa & residence routes

Passive income
Lump-sum taxation residenceFor wealthy residents who don't work in Switzerland.
Job offer
Non-EU work permit (quota)Senior or highly qualified roles only; the employer must show no Swiss or EU candidate fits.

Who gets easier access to Switzerland

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
10 yrs
5 years for some nationalities by treaty
Citizenship
10 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home.html

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Switzerland?

About $4,200 a month for one person and $9,050 for a family of four in Zurich, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $2,300 a month and a 3-bedroom around $4,250. Prices are 128% of US levels. Switzerland is the 76th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Switzerland safe to live in?

Switzerland scores 83/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 9th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.6 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Switzerland politically stable?

Switzerland scores 92/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 5th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Switzerland good for families?

Switzerland scores 85/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 8th of 76. Life expectancy is 84.4 years and under-5 mortality is 3.9 per 1,000 births. Childcare is expensive, and health insurance is mandatory and private, per person.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Switzerland?

Usually 10 yrs of legal residence. 5 years for some nationalities by treaty.

How long until I can become a citizen of Switzerland?

Usually 10 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Switzerland without a job offer?

Yes. Lump-sum taxation residence: For wealthy residents who don't work in Switzerland.

Who can live and work in Switzerland without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Switzerland can move