Why live in the mountains
Mountain living in Switzerland is increasingly appealing, especially since 2020:
- Exceptional setting: nature, fresh air, landscapes
- Daily outdoor activities: skiing, hiking, MTB, climbing
- Community: tight-knit villages, living traditions
- Cost: variable, often cheaper than cities (except tourist resorts)
- Remote work: mountains now compatible with urban careers
Buying or renting in the mountains
Chalets and apartments
- Top resorts (Verbier, Zermatt, Davos, St. Moritz): very high prices, CHF 12,000–25,000/m² or more
- Secondary resorts (Crans-Montana, Champéry, Saas-Fee): CHF 8,000–14,000/m²
- Residential mountain villages (Anzère, Vissoie, Aulla): CHF 5,000–9,000/m²
- Remote villages: possible CHF 3,000–6,000/m²
Lex Koller
- Non-resident foreigners restricted for secondary residence purchase
- Tourist zones have annual quotas
- Primary residence: no restriction if you actually live there
Specifics
- Heating: oil, wood, pellets, gas, electric
- Insulation: check, some old chalets are energy-hungry
- Minergie/CECB compliance: recommended for future resale
Access and transport
Roads
- Summer-only passes: Furka, Grimsel, Susten, Klausen
- Winter-closed passes (October–May): many
- Gotthard, Lötschberg, Vereina tunnels: year-round alternatives
- Winter-ready vehicle: snow tyres mandatory, chains recommended
Public transport
- Train + PostBus: serves many villages
- Cable cars and funiculars: Stoos, Mürren-Allmendhubel, Stechelberg-Gimmelwald (car-free villages)
- Saint-Bernard, Crans-Montana, Verbier: seasonal shuttles
Car-free villages
- Zermatt: accessible only by train from Täsch
- Mürren, Wengen: no road, accessed by cog railway
- Saas-Fee: cars banned in centre
- Unique atmosphere but logistics adapted
Internet and telecoms
Coverage
- 4G/5G: excellent in most resorts
- Fibre optic: present in 60–80% of alpine villages
- Satellite (Starlink): for very remote areas
Plans
- Swisscom blue Home: fibre available in mountains
- Sunrise, Salt: also present
- Costs similar to lowland
Schools and family
Small village schools
- Mixed-age classes: common
- Closures: some small schools close for lack of pupils
- School transport: communal bus to main commune
Teenagers
- Gymnasium: usually in town (Sion, Visp, Brig, Chur, Lugano), daily commute
- Boarding schools: possible for isolated families
- Apprenticeships: coordinate with regional businesses
Winter life
Alpine winter reality
- Snow: 1–5 metres at 1,500–2,000m
- Roads: cleared from 4–5am
- Occasional shortage: storms can isolate villages 1–3 days (rare)
- Sun: altitude = more sunny days in winter
Activities
- Skiing 5 min from home: ultimate luxury
- Snowshoes, cross-country, sledding
- Chalet evenings: convivial
Logistics
- Stock provisions: useful in storms
- Firewood: arrange delivery summer/autumn
- 4x4 or 4WD car: recommended
Services and shops
Available services
- GP: usually present or nearby
- Pharmacy: variable, sometimes 30–50 km
- Bank, post: Raiffeisen, cantonal banks present
- Village grocery: Migros Partner, Volg, Coop Pronto
- Restaurant: 1–3 in most villages
Common gaps
- Cinema: cities only
- Hospital: usually in lowlands
- Medical specialists: travel required
- Specialty shops: travel to nearest town
Tax aspects
Communal taxation
- Alpine communes often cheaper tax-wise
- Valais, Graubünden: moderately taxed cantons
- Tax savings vs big cities
Hidden costs
- Heating: higher than lowland (CHF 2,500–5,000/yr)
- Car: more used, more repairs
- Winter tyres: mandatory, change yearly
- Building insurance: higher premium per risk zone
Tips
- Try first: rent 6–12 months before buying
- Winter included: don't decide in summer only, live a winter
- Social link: integrate into the local community (associations, village festival)
- Learn local dialect: aids integration
- Plan for children: if you plan to start a family, school matters
- Remote work: check fibre connection, ergonomic gear
- Wintering: always have basics, medicines, charged vehicle battery
- Don't underestimate isolation: 30 min on the road can feel long in winter, especially at first
