Genki Logo
Genki offers international health insurance tailored for digital nomads, expats, and long-term travelers, providing worldwide coverage and flexibility.

Stay covered anywhere.

Affiliate disclosure
Nomad Score: 61%

💰 Cost & Affordability

💸 Cost of Living
21% Weight: 150
Lugano is one of the more expensive Swiss cities, with high prices for daily expenses compared to global averages.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
18% Weight: 80
Rental prices are very high, especially for centrally located apartments suitable for digital nomads.
🍎 Food & Groceries
30% Weight: 40
Food and groceries are costly, with many imported goods and limited budget options.
🚌 Transportation Cost
54% Weight: 20
Public transport is efficient but moderately priced; local travel costs are reasonable for Switzerland.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
35% Weight: 15
Entertainment options tend to be pricey, including dining out and cultural events.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
42% Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately expensive but offer high-quality facilities.
💱 Currency Stability
98% Weight: 30
Swiss Franc is one of the most stable currencies globally.

💻 Digital Nomad Essentials

🚀 Internet Speed
87% Weight: 100
High-speed fiber internet is widely available with reliable connectivity.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
63% Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist but fewer than in larger Swiss cities like Zurich or Geneva.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
71% Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, suitable for casual work sessions.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
65% Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not a large established scene.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
40% Weight: 100
Lugano is less popular among digital nomads compared to major European hubs.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
90% Weight: 25
Easy to purchase local SIM cards with good data plans.

🌟 Quality of Life

⚖️ Work-Life Balance
89% Weight: 30
Strong emphasis on quality of life and balanced work culture.
🌳 Environmental Quality
92% Weight: 15
Clean environment with good air and water quality, surrounded by nature.
🧼 Cleanliness
95% Weight: 10
City is very clean and well-maintained.
🗨️ Language Barrier
57% Weight: 30
Italian is the main language; English is moderately spoken but less than in bigger Swiss cities.
💨 Air Quality
90% Weight: 15
Generally excellent air quality due to strict environmental regulations.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Friendly
83% Weight: 25
Good schools, parks, and family-oriented amenities.

🏥 Healthcare

🏥 Healthcare Quality
97% Weight: 20
Top-tier healthcare system with excellent facilities.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
32% Weight: 25
Healthcare is expensive without insurance; mandatory health insurance adds to costs.
🏥 Healthcare
95% Weight: 20
Access to high-quality medical care is excellent.

🌿 Climate & Environment

☀️ Weather
60% Weight: 80
Mild climate with warm summers and cold winters; some rainfall throughout the year.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
88% Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
91% Weight: 10
Abundant parks and proximity to lakes and mountains.
❄️ Air Conditioning
45% Weight: 15
Air conditioning is not widespread due to cooler climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
78% Weight: 10
Distinct seasons with snowy winters and warm summers.
🔊 Noise Pollution
88% Weight: 10
Low noise pollution; quiet residential areas.

🎭 Culture & Entertainment

🎭 Culture
79% Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with Italian-Swiss influences and local festivals.
🌃 Nightlife
43% Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options compared to larger cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
94% Weight: 15
Excellent access to hiking, lakes, and mountain activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60% Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Italian and local dialects exist but limited compared to bigger cities.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
72% Weight: 10
Good variety of local tours focusing on nature and culture.
🎳 Indoors Fun
51% Weight: 10
Moderate options for museums, galleries, and indoor activities.

🍎 Food & Fitness

🍽️ Food Scene
70% Weight: 25
Strong Italian influence with quality dining but expensive.
🧠 Yoga Studios
58% Weight: 10
Several yoga studios available but not abundant.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
64% Weight: 15
Good quality gyms and fitness centers, though limited in number.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
73% Weight: 15
Availability of organic and health-conscious food options is good.

💼 Work Environment

🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
85% Weight: 20
Central European Time zone is convenient for European and some American clients.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
50% Weight: 25
Limited compared to larger Swiss cities; smaller expat and digital nomad community.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
55% Weight: 20
Moderate opportunities; more reliant on international remote work.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
47% Weight: 20
Smaller freelance community with limited local support.
🏢 Coworking Quality
68% Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are modern and well-equipped but fewer in number.

📈 Business & Economy

🚀 Startup Scene
42% Weight: 15
Startup ecosystem is small compared to Zurich or Basel.
💳 Local Payment Services
76% Weight: 10
Strong banking infrastructure with modern payment options.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
60% Weight: 15
Switzerland is crypto-friendly but Lugano is less active than Zug.

🚆 Transportation

✈️ Airport Connectivity
53% Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Milan Malpensa (~1 hour away); local airport has limited flights.
🚇 Public Transit
74% Weight: 20
Efficient local buses and regional train connections.
🚶 Walkability
80% Weight: 20
Compact city center is very walkable.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
62% Weight: 15
Uber is limited; local taxi apps available.
🚲 Cycling
65% Weight: 10
Some cycling infrastructure but hilly terrain limits usage.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
78% Weight: 15
Good train connections to Switzerland and Italy.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
59% Weight: 10
Electric scooter rentals available but limited coverage.

📡 Connectivity

📱 Mobile Network Coverage
90% Weight: 20
Excellent 4G/5G coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
95% Weight: 20
Reliable internet infrastructure supports stable VPN connections.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
98% Weight: 15
Very stable and reliable power supply.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
67% Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in some public areas but not widespread.

⚖️ Legal & Administrative

🛂 Visa Ease
35% Weight: 40
Schengen visa rules apply; no specific digital nomad visa; bureaucratic processes can be complex.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50% Weight: 30
Relatively high taxes; some cantonal tax benefits but overall expensive.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
96% Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech.
🏛️ Political Stability
99% Weight: 20
Extremely stable political environment.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
40% Weight: 15
Strict banking regulations make it difficult for foreigners to open accounts quickly.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60% Weight: 10
Business registration is straightforward but involves bureaucracy and costs.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0% Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available.

🌍 Digital Nomad Community

🌍 Nomad Friendly
45% Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
38% Weight: 25
Few organized nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
42% Weight: 20
Small online presence for digital nomads in Lugano.

🛡️ Safety & Tolerance

🛡️ Safety
97% Weight: 100
Very safe city with low crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
85% Weight: 50
Generally safe and welcoming for female travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
70% Weight: 50
Moderate racial tolerance; some cultural conservatism present.

Feedback Thank You!

Thank you!

Your feedback has been submitted successfully.