As we’ve already seen, Zurich is one of the best places to live and work, a city where you can realize both your professional and individual dreams.
In fact, Zurich is well-known for its multicultural environment, business opportunities, and Swiss efficiency when it comes to healthcare or public transport.
Nevertheless, moving to a new city can be really challenging, as you have to get used to a new environment that will expose you to a series of advantages and drawbacks.
So, let’s discover all the pros and cons of living in Zurich as an expat!
The main pros of living in Zurich...
1. High-quality life standards
What’s more, Zurich ranks 4th worldwide for the quality of life, mainly thanks to its healthcare, accommodations, and connections’ quality.
2. Great salaries
One of the main pros of living and working in Zurich is the high remuneration, which can include also subsidies like health services, leisure activities, or GA rail cards.
3. International environment
About 31% of residents aren’t Swiss: the expat community is massive and comes above all from Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, France, the UK, and Turkey.
So, such a cosmopolitan atmosphere is surely one of the main pros!
4. Plenty of sport and outdoor activities
Moreover, Zurich provides attractions and leisure activities for all tastes, such as:
- Shopping opportunities, from Bahnhofstrasse to the ShopVille-Zurich Main Station;
- Restaurants with international cuisines;
- Outdoor sports, including hiking, mountain biking, windsurfing, and skiing.
5. Efficient public transport
As for the public transport in Zurich, it consists of a network of high-quality and reliable trains, buses, and boats, whose integrated ticketing system can be used across the entire network.
6. Valuable healthcare system
The Swiss healthcare standard is high, too: Zurich’s clinics and hospitals offer access to a broad range of modern medical services that make patients be largely satisfied.
7. English proficiency
Zurich’s official language is German: yet, most Swiss nationals speak English well, and 17% of all residents regularly use it in the workplace!
8. Low crime rates
What’s more, Zurich has a truly low crime rate and ranked as the fifth safest city in the world: Swiss citizens, in fact, generally feel safe walking alone both at day and night.
...and some cons
1. High living costs
Turning to the cons, the high cost of living is surely the most well-known one, as you have to:
- Pay for a private health insurance, whose premium is up to 8% of your income;
- Deal with an expensive public transport.
So, we suggest you opt for a cutting-edge provider – like City Pop – that offers innovative furnished apartments, as well as a car/bike sharing service!
2. Competitive real estate market
Furthermore, renting an apartment can be complicated, due to the short supply of accommodations and the competitive tenant selection process.
Yet, choosing a flexible micro-living solution like ours can save you a lot of time and money!
3. Shops closed on Sundays
The Swiss shops are usually closed on Sundays, except for the ones in larger railway stations: this can be a drawback you’ll have to get used to.
4. German documents
Besides, many important immigration documents and medical instructions are available only in German: so, you can benefit from studying a little bit of this language.
