The capital city of a wealthy country, a major financial and business hub in Europe and the rest of the world, and an overall beautiful destination. It's no wonder so many people dream of traveling to Zürich. Just the name itself brings about thoughts of luxury, prominence, and prestige. It's a utopia-like metropolis unlike any other, almost as if it's a place of fiction. But Zürich is a real city, one that you can relocate to if you get the chance. Of course, doing so won't be easy but it's not exactly impossible either! At least, not according to this relocation guide.
Overview
As of 2021, Zürich is home to around 1,407,572 residents, making it the most populous city in Switzerland. This comes as no surprise considering it's both a major city and the capital of the country. When it comes to the weather, Zürich has all four seasons. Its hottest month of the year is July, with an average temperature of 67 °F (19.4°C) and its coldest month is January, with an average temperature of 34 °F (1.1°C). As for the languages here, German remains the most dominant considering Zürich is part of its eponymous German Canton. You ought to
learn the language before or during the first few years of your stay here.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Visa
You probably already know that you need a
Schengen Visa in order to gain entry to Switzerland and the rest of the EU. Especially if you're coming from a non-EU country. There's also the option of getting into the country via the
ETIAS Visa Waiver Program. If you're eligible, you can travel to Switzerland even when you don't have a Schengen Visa. But you'll need to get an immigrant visa to stay here for more than 90 days (approximately three months). This will allow you to stay for at least a year and from there, you can start the legal process of actually moving here.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Getting Around
It's pretty easy to get around the Swiss capital. What would you expect in a city like Zürich? Of course, the
public transport here would be efficient enough for everyday use. From the trains and trams to the buses and taxis, as well as
transportation apps, you have a myriad of options on how to get to your destination. For a less stressful time navigating public transport here, you ought to get a
Zürich Card, a travel pass that gives you access to all the modes of public transportation for around 24 to 72 hours. Also, with regards to the ticketing system of Switzerland, know that they don't base it off of your destination, but rather, the Canton you're in.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Where to Live
Where should you settle down in Zürich? Now that's a good question to answer first when you have plans of relocating here. Of course, whichever
neighborhood of Zürich you end up choosing should depend on your lifestyle. If you're more into the quiet and old-school European life, you're better off moving to Aarau or Rapperswil-Jona. Zürich West, on the other hand, is more for the workaholics who are all about their careers. But if you want a taste of the rural Swiss countryside, look no further than Affoltern! This district is the most relaxed out of all of them in Zürich.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Real Estate
Whichever place you chose, there's still one thing for certain: you will spend a lot of money.
The living costs in Zürich aren't exactly all that low, and to make matters worse, the Swiss Franc has more value than both the Euro and the US Dollar. So when you convert your money to the national currency, you'll find that you might need to earn more in order to pay the rent of your
luxury home here. And they commonly go at around a minimum of CHF 1,200.00 to a maximum of CHF 6,000.00 a month. Do you think you can handle that?
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Employment
Now, let's talk about employment. Of course, in order to survive in a place like Zürich, you'll need to find a stable job in the city. Fortunately, since Zürich is both a business and financial hub, central to, not just Europe, but the entire world, you might have an easy time
finding employment here. It helps that a lot of international multi-corporations have set up shop here as well. As for which sectors may prove to be most fruitful, according to the
Swiss job market, the country's top industries include finance, luxury retail, and tourism. Look out for jobs within these fields when you get to Zürich!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Education
If you're relocating to Zürich with your kids, you have nothing to worry about. They can live just as normal here as they did in your previous hometown. Furthermore, thanks to
Zürich's many notable international schools, they can also continue their schooling with no problem at all. It's even possible that they may just improve their studies here as well. For instance, if they go to
Zurich International School, there's a big chance they can end up going to the top universities in the UK, the US, and more for their higher education. That's just one of many possibilities for your kids when they study in Zürich.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Healthcare
As far as healthcare is concerned, you ought to fix your residency papers first. Once they're all done and out of the way, getting access to
Swiss healthcare would be a breeze. The country's system operates universally, meaning all residents of the country are obliged to get public health coverage. That alone would be enough to subsidize the rates for your medical costs, even when you get treated in some of the
finest hospitals in Zürich. However, if you went here before becoming a legal resident, all you can do is to get a private plan in the meantime.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Safety
There's also the question of safety. Will you be safe in Zürich? According to
the crime rate here, there's a big chance that you are! For now, the city's current general crime rate is only 10.17%. It's one of the lowest among European capital cities, many of which have notoriously high or mid-range general crime rates. As for the rate of increasing crimes here, that's only 49.39%, right smack at in the middle of the scale. Now, if this concerns you, you ought to also know that the safety rate of Zürich is 91.28% during the day and 80.90% at night. All look pretty good, right?
Source: Flickr.com/ Kecko
Taxes
Here's one you're probably not excited to deal with once you’ve relocated to Zürich: taxes! Becoming a new resident of Zürich, and of Switzerland in general, means you have to, at the very least, know the basics of
the country's tax system. For now, what you need to understand is that one's income tax rate is made up of various rates. They include the federal tax (0.77% - 13.2%), the Canton tax (4.00% to 45.32%), the communal tax, and the church tax. Now, when it comes to the Canton, communal, and church taxes, they will depend on where you are in Switzerland. Here in Zürich, the Canton tax rate here is 39.76%.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Relocation Tips
Now, for some final relocation tips. Firstly, don't forget to
set up your own local bank account here. As already mentioned, the Swiss Franc is among the most valuable currencies in the world. You're better off dealing with just that than any other currency. Having a local bank account also ensures that your money will be safe and your finances will be in check. Secondly, join a
local mobile network as well. Only then will you remain connected to your friends and family, both here and abroad! And in a big city like Zürich, you'll need to keep in contact with them!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Relocating to Zürich may be the ultimate dream, but it's not an impossible reality! You can live a new life in the Swiss capital if you want to! Just make sure to do it right and in order to do so, let this relocation guide help you every step of the way!
