Collège Alpin Beau Soleil
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Country guide
Overview
Switzerland🇨đź‡
At a Glance
How Switzerland compares across key indices
Cost of Living
126 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
92/100
Healthcare
79/100
Quality of Life
182/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in Switzerland
Cost of Living
126
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
94
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
126
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
132
100 = NYC dining
Safety & Crime
Low RiskHow safe residents feel in Switzerland - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
92/100
Crime Index
2/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
Daytime100
Nighttime100
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in Switzerland
Switzerland has 95 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $2,490 in ZĂĽrich (Kreis 3) to $2,938 in Bern. Luzern leads on safety, scoring 95/100. ZĂĽrich (Kreis 11) ranks highest for quality of life at 177/200.
đź’¸Most Affordable
ZĂĽrich (Kreis 3)
$2,490/mo
Safest
Luzern
95/100
Best Quality of Life
ZĂĽrich (Kreis 11)
177/200
Best Healthcare
Bern
83/100
City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
40 of 95 shown| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bern | $2,938 | 92/100 | 173/200 | 83/100 | 17 |
| ZĂĽrich | $2,769 | 92/100 | 173/200 | 82/100 | 18 |
| Genève | $2,675 | 93/100 | 175/200 | 79/100 | 16 |
| Basel | $2,659 | 94/100 | 175/200 | 79/100 | 15 |
| Lausanne | $2,626 | 94/100 | 175/200 | 78/100 | 14 |
| Winterthur | $2,595 | 95/100 | 176/200 | 77/100 | 13 |
| Luzern | $2,554 | 95/100 | 176/200 | 76/100 | 12 |
| Sankt Gallen | $2,545 | 95/100 | 176/200 | 76/100 | 12 |
| Lugano | $2,520 | 95/100 | 176/200 | 76/100 | 11 |
| Biel/Bienne | $2,504 | 95/100 | 176/200 | 75/100 | 11 |
| ZĂĽrich (Kreis 11) | $2,501 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| ZĂĽrich (Kreis 3) | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| ZĂĽrich (Kreis 9) | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Thun | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Bellinzona | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Köniz | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Fribourg | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| La Chaux-de-Fonds | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Schaffhausen | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| ZĂĽrich (Kreis 10) | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Chur | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Rapperswil | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Uster | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Sitten | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| ZĂĽrich (Kreis 7) | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Neuchâtel | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Emmen | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Zug | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Yverdon-les-Bains | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Vernier | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| ZĂĽrich (Kreis 6) | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| ZĂĽrich (Kreis 2) | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| ZĂĽrich (Kreis 9) / Altstetten | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| ZĂĽrich (Kreis 12) | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Lancy | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| ZĂĽrich (Kreis 4) / Aussersihl | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Montreux | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Frauenfeld | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Kriens | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
| Wetzikon | $2,490 | 95/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 10 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Families
Schools
87 verified school profiles across 9 cities in Switzerland — language model, grade range, credentials, and published tuition. A sample is shown here; filter the full set in the School Finder.
Collège du Léman
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Career Related
Ib Diploma
Collège et Lycée St-Charles
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Copperfield Verbier
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Primary Years
Academia International School
Verified
BaselAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
Academia International School Zurich
Verified
ZurichAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
63 more verified schools in Switzerland are available in the School Finder, with filters for city, age, language, credentials, and tuition.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for Switzerland
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A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Environment
CleanAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in Switzerland
Pollution Index
18/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
9.1ug/m3
Good
Environmental Quality
Air Quality100/100
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in Switzerland, answered with data
What is the cost of living in Switzerland?
Switzerland has a cost of living index of 126 relative to New York City (100). It is on par with or more expensive than major US cities. Monthly costs for a single person start around $2,595 in Winterthur and reach $2,938 in Bern.
What is the cheapest city in Switzerland for expats?
Winterthur is the most affordable city in Switzerland in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $2,595 for a single person including rent. Lausanne is the next most affordable at $2,626/mo.
Is Switzerland safe for expats?
Switzerland has a safety index of 92/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Winterthur scores highest on safety at 95/100.
What is the best city in Switzerland for expats and digital nomads?
Winterthur ranks highest for quality of life in Switzerland, scoring 176/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $2,595/mo for a single person.
How good is healthcare in Switzerland?
Switzerland scores 79/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it excellent by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
What is the air quality and pollution like in Switzerland?
Switzerland has a pollution index of 18/100 (lower = cleaner). This is relatively clean by global standards, making it appealing for those prioritising air quality and outdoor lifestyle.
Before You Go
Core tools and insurance next steps for planning a move to Switzerland
Plan Your Move
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Build My Escape Plan
Turn this country into a practical move plan with visa, insurance, housing, banking, and scouting-trip next steps.
Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
Cost of Living
Model monthly costs with Freedom Abroad estimates before you narrow the shortlist.
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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