The Best Places to Live in Switzerland

Here, we explore the best places to live in Switzerland as an expat, considering factors like climate, property options, and lifestyle. Cities like Zurich and Geneva are often top choices, but which Swiss destination is the right fit for you?

Switzerland is renowned for its high quality of life, breath-taking scenery, and a seamless blend of modern living with natural beauty. Whether it’s mornings by the lake, weekend hikes in the mountains, or enjoying a thriving cultural scene, Switzerland offers a lifestyle that appeals to a wide range of people.

We’ve identified the best places to live in Switzerland based on the most popular destinations from those who have relocated with PSS International Removals in the past. These locations are chosen by people who were in a similar position to yours who may have been looking for a welcoming community, career opportunities, or simply a change in pace.

With a growing expat community and a reputation for safety, stability, and opportunity, Switzerland continues to attract individuals and families from around the world. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best places to live in Switzerland, taking into account factors like affordability, quality of life, and suitability for students, families, and retirees. As always, we are here for you if you require a removal service to Switzerland.

1. Zurich – Popular place to live for families with good public transport

Not only is Zurich considered to be one of the best cities to live in Switzerland, but in actual fact, Zurich is seen to be one of the best cities to live in the entire world. The reason is because the city provides a high quality of life with well paid jobs and plenty of leisure activities to enjoy in your free time.

Despite being a busy city, Zurich is seen to be one of the best places to live in Switzerland for families. This city has an incredibly low petty and major crime levels; meaning that people feel that they are safe to move around the streets – even late at night.

Away from safety, Zurich is also a place that is recognised as providing a top-tier level of healthcare, although, many will say that this could be said for Switzerland as a whole.

2. Geneva – Stunning landscape and luxury living

Thanks to its location, Geneva is known as a city that is able to provide some of the most beautiful examples of natural scenery in the world. Found between the Swiss Alps and Lake Geneva, many of the people who live in the city will tell you just how much they love being surrounded by the stunning landscape.

It is also a place to relocate to if you enjoy being active. For the winter months, you will be able to ski and during the summer months, you can enjoy the lake with swimming, sailing and another variety of other watersports.

Another great thing about choosing to live in Geneva is that you will find more than 60 public parks spread throughout the entire city, just ready and waiting for you to explore.  This is ideal if you love the idea of being in a city, but still having the ability to get out in some fresh air.

One thing to consider if you are wondering whether Geneva might be right for you is that the cost of living is high when compared with other cities. In fact, in a 2024 cost of living survey, carried out by Mercer, found that Geneva is the 4th most expensive city to live in (out of the 226 cities that were a part of the survey). That said, it does seem that the salaries in the city are also higher when compared to other cities.

3. Basel – Slower paced and very peaceful

Whilst Geneva appears to be all about the natural landscape that surrounds it, Basel is definitely a city that is cultural in its makeup. So much so that it is recognised as being a cultural centre for the whole of Europe.

In this city, you will find 40 museums and as many as 25 theatres too. All of which is a great chance to see some of the very best history, art and performance that can be found in Switzerland.

Another reason that some people will choose Basel over other cities in Switzerland is because of its location. Found in the north of the country, it is right by the border meeting for Switzerland, France and Germany, allowing you to use it as a base to then explore the wider parts of Europe with ease.

4. Lausanne –  Amazing natural beauty and rich in culture

Compared to other cities in the world, Lausanne is somewhere that really showcases the outstanding natural beauty that is a key part of Switzerland. A smaller city when put against the likes of Basel and Geneva, Lausanne is found in the French area of Switzerland and is right next to a beautiful lake, which means that you are never far from some truly exceptional natural beauty.

It is also based within a valley and this combined with the mild and pleasant weather, makes it a fantastic place to find yourself if you love to be outside soaking up the gentle sunshine that Switzerland has to offer. It is important to know that Lausanne is a particularly hilly city, which is not always ideal if you find it hard to get around.

5. Bern – High average salaries and extremely safe

If you were searching for the best places to live in Switzerland’s countryside, then Bern would definitely be on the list. Many head here because Bern is known to have one of the lowest crime rates in the world, even lower than some of the other cities in Switzerland (which themselves are recognised to have low crime rates).

As well as feeling safe enough to walk around the streets of Bern at any time of day or night, if you would rather utilise the public transport then Bern is known to be incredibly well-connected, with trams, buses and trains to get you where you need to be.

6. Lugano –  Good climate and Mediterranean way of life

If you spend some time in Lugano then you may end up wondering whether you are in Italy rather than Switzerland, and this is for a good reason. Lugano has one of the largest Italian-speaking communities (outside of Italy itself of course). This means that if you are Italian, then this may be a great consideration for you to move to.

Not only are there plenty of Italian people there, but also the shopping and eating out opportunities have a distinctly Italian feel to them. Aside from the atmosphere, Lugano is also a city that has relatively mild weather. There can be some rain in the summer months, but this is eased by the milder winters, which are ideal if you are not a huge fans of colder temperatures.

7. Winterthur – Very popular places for students studying in Switzerland

The history of Winterthur is a combination of the industrial centre, combined with stately homes and mansions, giving it plenty of contrast and interest too. Winterthur is known to be a popular place for students who want to study in Switzerland, which means that it has a real mix of cultures all in one city.

This is largely thanks to the reputation it has gained as having some of the best places to study, which includes Zurcher Fachhochschule and Winterthur Zurich University of Applied Sciences.

Another plus point of deciding to live in Winterthur is the fact that it is only 20 miles from Zurich, this means that you can hop on one of the fast and reliable trains that move across Switzerland and be in the larger city in just under 20 minutes.

8. Zug – Perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle

Tucked away in the Alps, Zug is known to have some of the friendliest residents in the whole of Switzerland, which is great news if you are looking for a warm welcome.

One reason that this may be the case is that Zug has one of the lowest tax rates in the whole of Switzerland, however, this has resulted in many things being more expensive in the city; such as rental properties and eating out.

If you can afford to live in Zug, then you will often have to opt for a smaller property, but this is acceptable for so many people who decide to call it their home.

Zug is also much quieter than some of the larger cities, which is ideal if you are not keen on the idea of being surrounded by people and the hustle and bustle that comes with living in a larger city.

9. Lucerne – Small town charm and high quality lifestyle

The history of German-speaking Lucerne is one of royalty and nobility, which means that many may be mistaken in thinking that you can only live here if you have money to spend.

Of course, many people who decide to live in the city in Central Switzerland will enjoy the finer things in life, however, there has definitely been a change in approach and now more people are focused on culture and the arts, rather than on money.

That said, life in Lucerne can be expensive, although this seems to be the case for much of Switzerland, however, the wages in the area are considered to be high too.

10. Sion – Ideal for family life and tranquillity

One of the main things to know about Sion is that it is a town that is ideal for family life. Those who are thinking about raising a family will love the fact that you can walk around with your children without having to worry about the crime rates or their safety, something that is appreciated in everyday life.

It is also ideally located close to some of the very best ski resorts in the country including Anzere and Veysonnaz. This means that if you are someone who loves to be out and enjoy the very best that Switzerland has to offer, then this may be the ideal city for you to choose.

11. St Gallen – Good transport links to the rest of the country and Germany

There may only be a small number of people living in St Gallen who are from the UK originally, but this doesn’t mean that you will feel alone if you do decide to move there. In fact, it is a place that is welcoming and accepting of all people and there is a real sense of diversity and culture in the city, which is so easy to fall in love with and even easier to accept as your way of life.

St Gallen is located between Lake Constance and the Appenzell Alps, which means that there is plenty of chance to get outside and enjoy a variety of spots. This includes sailing, hiking and swimming, as well as the obvious skiing opportunities too.

12. Obwalden – Rural, welcoming atmosphere

One of the most wonderful things about living in Obwalden is that it is the perfect combination of countryside living, whilst still being a thriving and popular city. Ideal if you want to feel that you can escape to the open world around you, without having to stray too far from home.

Obwalden also has a fantastically rated rail network and along with the well-developed network of roads, this means that the city itself (as well as the surrounding areas) is incredibly easy to move around and explore.

Obwalden is known to have incredibly low tax rates, as well as a variety of housing options, including modern properties as well as those that have plenty of charm and history. Ideal if you are searching for the perfect place to live for you and your family, or simply somewhere that can act as a stepping stone on the property ladder for you too.

13. Neuchatel – Beautiful small town with a strong community vibe

Found halfway between the larger cities of Geneva and Zurich, Neuchatel is the ideal place to live if you want to be able to move around the other locations in the country, but want to have a base to call your own.

The city is a thousand years old, which means that there is going to be plenty of history and culture for you to explore. This is particularly true if you enjoy looking at medieval architecture along with historical points of interest too.

Neuchatel is also ideal if you want to soak up the beauty of Switzerland, as it is between the Jura Mountains and Lake Neuchatel too. Ideal if you are someone who enjoys hiking, or who wants to be able to take part in a variety of watersports too.

Are you looking to move your personal belongings to Switzerland from UK?

Choosing the best place to live in Switzerland is a highly personal decision, shaped by your family’s needs, lifestyle preferences, and career ambitions.

Whether you’re seeking a city with excellent schools, beautiful natural surroundings, a rich cultural scene, or great job opportunities, Switzerland offers a range of locations to match your idea of the perfect life.

If you’re planning a move to Switzerland from the UK, PSS International Removals is here to make the process as smooth as possible. With over 40 years of experience in international relocation, we’ll handle every detail, from providing you with a dedicated move manager to assisting with customs clearance, ensuring your move is seamless and stress-free.