Pros and cons of living in Zurich

The city of Zurich, Switzerland is most famous for being the financial capital of the country. With being a banking hub, Zurich is often underestimated, and people don’t often realise how fascinating and delightful the city is.

Zurich is a popular destination with expats for many reasons, such as its stunning scenery. The city is located in the Alps, at the northwesterly end of Lake Zurich, so you are guaranteed to see some of the most beautiful sights in Switzerland. The city is also popular with expats as it is an expanding metropolitan area and is, in fact, one of the most cosmopolitan and dynamic places to live in Switzerland. More than one third of the population have migrated to the city from the likes of Italy, the Balkans, Portugal and Germany, and this diversity makes the city thrive.

All this is very attractive, but what is it actually like to live in Zurich? If you are reading this post now, you are most likely looking for an answer to this million-dollar question so you can decide whether to make the move or not. Like anywhere in the world, there are some pros and cons of living in Zurich that need to be weighed up and considered before making the pressing decision.

What is life like in Zurich?

Pro: High-quality of life

Zurich is actually one of the best places to live in the world. Switzerland is known for having very high standards of living, ranking 4th worldwide for quality of life. Expats can look forward to great healthcare facilities, high quality accommodation and reliable transport connections, when living in Zurich.

Con: Difficult to rent properties

Due to the fact that the quality of life in Zurich is so high, there is a short supply of accommodation in the city. This often means that expats have a hard time finding the perfect place to live. Swiss landlords also don’t help, and the competitive tenant selection process can be a lot of hassle.

However, the solution to this problem is to be flexible! There are a range of services out there that can help you to find properties, such as Hello Switzerland. The earlier you start planning and looking for accommodation, the higher the chances of finding somewhere and the less stressful your move to Zurich will be.

What is the cost of living like in Zurich?

Pro: Good salaries

In comparison to other European countries, expats moving to Zurich can look forward to high remuneration. It is also common for employers to include other subsides like health care, leisure activities and even education allowances for those moving to Zurich with children.

Con: One of the most expensive cities to live in

Zurich ranks in the top five most expensive cities for expats to live in, alongside three other Swiss cities. Living in Switzerland is famously pricey, as you have to pay for private health care insurance with a premium of up to 8% of your total income, and deal with expensive public transport.

However, as long as you budget accordingly and do your research before you go, there are always ways to get around this issue.

What are crime rates like in Zurich?

Pro: Very low crime rates

Zurich and Switzerland are well known for having truly low crime rates. In fact, Zurich has been ranked as the fifth safest city to live in the world. As a result, expats and Swiss citizens feel very safe walking around the city at both day and night.

Con: Lots of regulations

One of the reasons why Zurich holds very low crime rates is due to the fact that the Swiss can be quite pretentious, in comparison to other countries, when it comes to their rules and regulations. When you move to Zurich, you may notice some odd rules, such as you aren’t allowed to wash your vehicle on a Sunday… odd!

However, it is always best to be safe than sorry, right? And their method of madness has proven to work, with one of the lowest crime rates in the world, so we shouldn’t really complain.

What are the shopping facilities like in Zurich?

Pro: Great place for luxury shopping

If you love to shop till you drop, then you will love Zurich! Zurich is a very well-known shopping destination. The Bahnohofstrasse is a popular place for millionaires to shop, as it is famous for being one of the most exclusive and expensive shopping streets in the world.

Con: Shops are shut on Sundays

If you currently live in the UK, then you will know the frustration of shops closing early on Sundays, however in Zurich they are shut altogether. If you need to go to the shops on a Sunday, you will need to head for the city’s railway stations as they tend to be the only ones open.

However, unfortunately, this is just a drawback that you will have to get used to! It may be inconvenient at times, but just make sure you stay organised and it shouldn’t cause too much disruption.

What are the transport services like in Zurich?

Pro: Reliable public transport

The transport system in Zurich is notoriously known for being incredibly efficient. It consists of a network of trains, buses and even boats! When travelling on Zurich’s public transport, you can take advantage of its integrated ticketing system which will give you access to the entire transport network.

Con: Public transport is expensive

Public transport is known to be expensive in Switzerland and as a result, many people choose to cycle from A to B.

However, if you do your research, you might come across a variety of discount options that are available for your transport options. As well as this, you may be lucky enough to have this covered off by your employer!

What are the healthcare facilities like in Zurich?

Pro: High quality healthcare

Switzerland is also known for the great healthcare facilities they offer their citizens. The standard of healthcare in Zurich is very high, with exceptional services from all hospitals and clinics. The offer a large range of modern medical services and patients are nearly always largely satisfied with the service they receive.

Con: Private health insurance is required

Expats moving to Zurich will find that they are required to pay for their own, private health insurance. This can be relatively costly, especially if you are used to the perks on the NHS in the UK. As previously mentioned, your health insurance premium can be up to 8% of your income.

However, like travel expenses, this might be funded by your employer so make sure you check your benefits to see what’s included.

What is the culture like in Zurich?

Pro: Most people are English speaking

The Swiss either speak French, German, Italian or Romansh, however, luckily for you, you don’t need to worry about learning all four languages. The majority of people in Switzerland speak fluent English and as the city is becoming ever more popular with expats, the English language is becoming more widely spoken.

Con: Documents are not always available in English

It is recommended that expats moving to Zurich learn the basics of the Swiss German language, as this will be useful when having to read documents. If not, expats might struggle to read and complete important immigration paperwork which is usually available in either German or French. They may also struggle with day-to-day activities, such as product labels in the shops and medication instructions or prescriptions.

However, learning the basics of German or French is easy! There are plenty of online tools out there than can support your foreign language learning and once you are settled in, you will pick up the odd words here and there naturally.

Moving to Zurich brings so many exciting prospects to Brit’s who are looking for a new life in Switzerland, however, there are obviously some things to take into consideration before you move. Some of the cons listed in the categories above may be more significant to you than others, but many other European cities are the same.

If this article has convinced you to move to Zurich, then get in contact with us today. We move thousands of our customers to Switzerland every year with our reliable international removal services.

Find out more about what we do and get a quote online today.