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Living and working in Zurich

By The Agences-Placement editorial team·Jobs··1 min read

Zurich is Switzerland's economic engine and one of the world's most expensive cities. Record salaries, exceptional quality of life, but high cost and intense competition.

Living and working in Zurich

The canton

  • Population: 1.6 million (canton), 440,000 (city)
  • Median salary: CHF 8,200/month (CH record)
  • Unemployment rate: 1.7%
  • Language: German (Swiss German spoken)

Economy

  • Banking hub: UBS, Raiffeisen, Zurich Insurance, Swiss Re
  • Tech: Google EMEA, Microsoft, Disney Research
  • Pharma nearby: Roche, J&J Schaffhausen
  • Industry: ABB, Sika, Sonova

Housing

  • 3.5-room city rent: CHF 2,400-3,200/month
  • Periphery (Winterthur, Uster): CHF 1,800-2,400
  • Purchase: CHF 1.2-2.5M standard apartment
  • Register 3-5 agencies in parallel, vacancy < 1%

Schools

  • Excellent bilingual DE/HochD public system
  • International: Zurich International School, ICS Zurich
  • ETH Zurich: world-top technical university

Transport

  • S-Bahn: dense network, train every 15-30 min
  • Tram + bus: full city coverage
  • ZRH airport: 130+ direct destinations
  • SBB GA card: CHF 4,080/year, unlimited travel

Practical life

  • Sports: Lake Zurich (summer swimming), mountains 45 min
  • Culture: Kunsthaus, Tonhalle, theatres
  • Restaurants: 100+ Michelin stars region
  • Climate: continental, 4 distinct seasons

Tips

  • B2 German minimum outside expat zones
  • ETH/HSG alumni network: very influential
  • Club networks: Zurich International Club, Frauen Powered
  • Cost of living: budget 30% more than in Romandy

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