Cost of Living & Helpful Facts about Life in Switzerland

Practical Information

Emergency Numbers in Switzerland

Police 117 Fire department 118 Emergency/ambulance 144

Public Holidays in Switzerland

Every canton in Switzerland celebrates their own specific holidays in addition to recognizing the national holidays. When moving to Switzerland, be sure to check the holidays associated with your specific canton.

National Swiss Holidays

New Year’s Day January 1 Good Friday The Friday before Easter Sunday. Ascension Day 40 days after Easter. National Day August 1 Christmas Day December 25

Holidays Celebrated in Most Cantons

Berchtolds Day January 2 St. Joseph’s Day March 19 Easter Monday Monday after Easter Sunday Swiss Federal Fast Third Sunday in September. Immaculate Conception Day December 8 St. Stephen’s Day December 26

Main Embassies in Switzerland

Canada

Embassy of Canada to Switzerland in Bern Kirchenfeldstrasse 88 CH-3005 Bern, Switzerland Telephone: +41 31 357 3200 bern@international.gc.ca

India

Embassy of India in Bern Kirchenfeldstrasse 28 3005 Bern, Switzerland Telephone: +41 31 350 1130 cons.berne@mea.gov.in

United Kingdom

British Embassy in Bern Consular Services Thunstrasse 50 3005 Bern, Switzerland Telephone: +41 31 359 77 00 info.berne@fco.gov.uk

United States of America

U.S. Embassy in Bern Sulgeneckstrasse 19 CH-3007 Bern, Switzerland Telephone: +41 31 357 7011 bernpa@state.gov

Main Airports in Switzerland

Zurich International Airport is the largest airport in Switzerland. The other two main airports travelers can use are:

• Geneva International Airport
• Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport

Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is located in France but is still used to service Switzerland.

Cost of Living

The average cost of living is high in Switzerland. Accommodation is a big expense, as the housing market is dominated by rentals that have driven prices up. However, costs are high even if you find a cheap place to live. Expect your monthly living expenses to total around 1,500 CHF (1,600 USD) before rent. You can read more about the Cost of Living in Switzerland in our article, which covers costs related to healthcare, education, housing, utilities, public transportation, and more! In particular, we look at the most expensive cities in Switzerland: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern.

Culture and Social Etiquette

Historically, Switzerland is known for its neutrality and peacefulness. However, there are a handful of cultural and social etiquette to be aware of to ensure your stay in the country is also a peaceful one.

It Depends on Your Canton

It might seem like the phrase “it depends on your canton” is said too often in regard to Switzerland, but that is because it is true. This landlocked country is influenced tremendously by its bordering neighbors, specifically Germany, Italy, and France. These neighboring countries lend to Switzerland having four official languages (German, French, Italian, and Romansh) and cantons which vary culturally depending on the dominant language of the region.

For example, Geneva is in a French-speaking canton of Switzerland, while Zurich is in a German one. Expats moving to Geneva will benefit from familiarizing themselves with French and general French customs, while those moving to Zurich should do the same with German.

The differences between cantons also extends to laws and politics, as Switzerland gives a lot of authority to the cantonal governments. No matter where you move in Switzerland, you should check with your specific canton’s website as mandates and expectations can vary widely.

Punctuality

You may think the Swiss are known for punctuality just because of their watches, but the expectation to be on time runs deeper than that. In the business world, meetings start exactly on time and it is seen as unprofessional to be late. Even in social engagements, tardiness is considered rude. Being a few minutes late is acceptable, but it is best to show up show up right on time or a few minutes early to avoid any faux paus.

Bring a Gift

If you are invited to someone’s home, it is expected to bring a gift for the hostess (and a small present if they have a child). Even if you go to a friend’s home, it is customary to bring something such as a bottle of wine, flowers, or sweets.

Toasts

Toasts are important in Switzerland. If you go to someone’s home for a meal, you must wait for the hostess to make a toast before eating or drinking. Once the toast has been made, everyone raises their glass and makes direct eye contact with someone nearby. Likewise, if you meet one person for a drink, you should also maintain direct eye contact during a toast or cheers.

Greetings

Greetings in Switzerland are formal and direct. You should either shake someone’s hand or kiss to the side of the cheek. The number of kisses, two or three, depend on your canton. When you shake hands, you should also maintain direct eye contact.

When addressing someone by name, use formal titles such as Mr. or Mrs., or, depending on the canton’s language, Monsieur, Madame, Herr, or Frau. If the person is a doctor, be sure to refer to them as such.

Dogs are Allowed Everywhere

If you are not a pet lover, Switzerland may be uncomfortable at times. It is perfectly acceptable for someone’s furry friend to accompany them into a restaurant or shop.

Personal Space

Despite the Swiss propensity for order and timeliness, when it comes to lining up or giving people space, Switzerland can feel a bit chaotic. Do not be alarmed if someone presses against you on public transportation or cuts in front of you at the grocery store. You may not even get an acknowledgement for the infraction. This is not deemed rude in Switzerland, but rather just the way things operate.

Personal Life 

In contrast with the lack of personal space, the Swiss tend to keep people at an emotional distance until an adequate length of time has passed. This means, when meeting new people, do not feel slighted if you are not immediately welcomed and invited to every gathering. Likewise, do not open up about your personal life at work, nor ask too many personal questions of your colleagues.

Swiss culture dictates a gradual build of friendship and closeness. Once this is established, you will have no problem feeling welcomed.

Driving in Switzerland

The road rules for driving in Switzerland are heavily enforced in Switzerland and traffic fines are steep. If you are caught driving 61 km/h in the 50 km/h zone, the fine could be as high as 250 CHF (255 USD).

Facts about Driving in Switzerland

• The minimum age for driving in Switzerland is 18.
• Driving in Switzerland is on the right side of the road.
• Your headlights must be switched on during all hours of the day, even in daylight.
• The speed for motorways is typically 120 km/h and for highways it is 100 km/h. In towns it is 80 km/h.
• Traffic on the right has priority.
• You must stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk.
• If you drive on the motorways, you must have a Swiss motorway vignette (toll pass). Vignettes can be purchased online or at the Swiss border. It is only possible to buy a one-year pass for 40 CHF (40 USD).

Driving in Switzerland with a Foreign License

Switzerland largely allows any valid driving license to be used in the country for up to a year as long as the license contains Roman letters and numerals, and has a date displaying the driver has been legally able to drive for at least one year. If your license does not contain Roman letter and numerals, you will need to obtain an International Driving License.

Often, Canadian and US driving licenses do not have an issue date. If this is the case, you may need a special note from your embassy or consulate saying that you have been driving for more than a year. Once you have this letter, you can drive in Switzerland with your foreign license for one year (the expiration date should be noted in the letter). Be sure to carry the note with you whenever you are driving.

Residents with a UK or EU licenses are allowed to drive in Switzerland for their first year of staying there.

How to Get a Swiss Driving License

No matter in which country your driving license was issued, if you wish to drive in Switzerland after one year of living there, you must get a Swiss driving license. For most nationalities, this will just involve some paperwork and a fee. For others, you may need to take a driving course, written and practice tests included. Once you have a permanent place to stay and your residency card, it is advisable to apply for your Swiss license sooner rather than later.

To get a driving license in Switzerland you will need:

• an ‘exchange of driver’s license’ form from your canton’s government website
• certified Swiss optician eye test (note that a Swiss optician will need to fill out a section of your ‘exchange of driver’s license’ form)
• passport
• passport photo
• residency permit

Renting a Car in Switzerland

To drive a rental car in Switzerland, you must be at least 20 years old and have held your current driving license for longer than one year. Your car should come with a vignette pass and it is advisable to get insurance.

Public Transportation in Switzerland

Like everything else in Switzerland, public transportation in Switzerland is highly efficient and organized. The system spreads throughout the entire country, making it easy to get around the major cities and reach remote, rural towns.

How is Public Transportation in Switzerland?

Trains and buses are at the heart of Switzerland’s public transportation system. Together, they cover over 5,000 km of road.

Major cities are connected by InterCity trains, which run regularly throughout the week and weekend. Although Switzerland does not have its own high-speed railway system, high-speed trains from neighboring countries cut through the country on a daily basis and make frequent stops at Swiss cities and towns.

Cost of Public Transport in Switzerland

There are many different types of fare options for public transportation in Switzerland such as one-day passes, unlimited monthly passes, or half-fare passes. Please see the chart below for a sampling of public transportation costs in Switzerland.

* Allows for half-priced travel on entire public transport network. ** Best for frequent public transportation use.

Taxi

Taxi prices in Switzerland vary slightly by canton, but, on the whole, they are expensive. Fares start at 6.50 CHF (7 USD) and charge about 3.50 (3.50 USD) per kilometer.