Living and working in Lucerne

The canton

• Population: 415,000
• Median salary: CHF 7,200/month
• Unemployment rate: 1.9%
• Language: German (Swiss German)

Economy

• Tourism: 6 million visitors/year
• Industrial SMEs: machinery, MedTech
• Luxury hospitality: Bürgenstock, Palace Lucerne
• HSLU (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences): architecture, economics, design
• Schindler (HQ Ebikon): elevators, 65,000 employees worldwide

Housing

• 3.5-room city: CHF 1,900-2,500/month
• Periphery: CHF 1,500-2,000
• Purchase: CHF 1-2M
• Moderate housing tension

Transport

• Zurich 45 min train
• Basel 1h15, Bern 1h
• SBB + bus: excellent

Practical life

• Lake Lucerne: swimming, sailing, boating
• Pilatus, Rigi: accessible mountains
• KKL: world-renowned cultural centre
• Cultural: Lucerne Festival (classical music)

Tips

• German required (B2)
• Excellent quality of life for families
• Immediate Alpine accessibility