Living in Zurich

If you are moving to Switzerland, finding accommodation will be one of your priorities – in fact, you should be examining your options even before travelling to the country. Switzerland offers a wide range of accommodations; hundreds of apartments, studios or houses and villas are available in most Swiss cantons. Here’s what you need to know in order to find yours.

Zurich is the most popular expat destination in Switzerland, and one of the world's most pleasant cities. Each year, it attracts thousands of expats from across the globe. However, the cost of living in Zurich is quite high – but on the other hand, so is the population's purchasing power thanks to the attractive wages offered.

Οne of the country’s best expat destinations, Geneva keeps attracting European and foreign nationals due to the different career opportunities which are available there. The capital city of the canton by the same name, Geneva may only have 200,000 inhabitants, but it’s considered one of the world’s “largest small cities”. As such, finding accommodation here may prove challenging, so you need to plan ahead.

Bern, the Swiss capital city, has a rich historical and cultural heritage. The country's fifth most densely populated city has been attracting European Union and non-European expats for many years, due to its quality of living and slower pace than other canton capitals like Zurich and Geneva. Bern’s population consists of Swiss, Germans and Italians, as well as citizens of various origins. The Swiss capital city, which is also the canton of Bern's capital city, offers great career and housing opportunities: you will not have much trouble finding accommodation suiting your preferences and budget if you wish to settle there.

Lausanne, located in west Switzerland on the banks of Lake Geneva, is a choice destination for expatriation. It is the capital city of the French-speaking canton of Vaud and one of the country's biggest cities. Lausanne’s population amounts to more than 300,000 inhabitants, including a large number of expats who have settled there over the years. Being Switzerland’s commercial, tourist and cultural centre, housing demand in Lausanne is much higher than the supply – so you are advised to start your apartment hunting well in advance.