Essentials
- City
- St. Gallen, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Population
- Approximately 80,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber available up to 10 Gbps via Swisscom/Salt)
- Currency & Banking
- Swiss Franc (CHF). 1 CHF ≈ 1.13 USD, 1 USD ≈ 0.88 CHF
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high-quality Alpine water
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type J (Note: Type C two-pin plugs also fit)
- SIM Card
- Swisscom, Sunrise, and Salt. Prepaid SIMs available at St. Gallen Train Station (approx. 20 CHF)
- Banking for Expats
- UBS, Credit Suisse, Kantonalbank St. Gallen, and digital banks like Neon or Revolut
- Accommodation
- High demand. Options via Visionapartments, Airbnb, and local listings on Comparis.ch
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and TWINT (mobile payment) are accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, City-Apartments St. Gallen (approx. 1,800-2,500 CHF/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- St. Gallen Youth Hostel (Jüchstrasse 25, approx. 55 CHF/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Altstadt (Old Town) near the Abbey District
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Linsenbühl or Rosenberg for a mix of residential quiet and proximity to the University (HSG)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- CreativeSpace St. Gallen (Vadianstrasse 59). Daily desk approx. 35 CHF
- Best Cafe for Work
- Kaffeehaus (Linsebühlstrasse 77). Excellent coffee and laptop-friendly atmosphere
- Networking Events
- Startfeld events for startups and tech (Lerchenfeldstrasse 3)
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations St. Gallen Chapter and 'Expats in St. Gallen' Facebook group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (limited availability) and local apps like 7x7 Taxi
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- PubliBike (Station-based bike sharing, approx. 3-5 CHF per ride)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Drei Weieren (Three Ponds) for swimming; or Lake Constance (Arbon/Rorschach) 15 mins by train
- Top Regional Airline
- Helvetic Airways (operating via Zurich Airport)
- Top International Airline
- Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS)
- Highway Access
- A1 Motorway connects directly to Zurich (1 hour) and Austria (30 mins)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- St. Gallen Hauptbahnhof (Main Station)
- Public Transport Passes
- Ostwind zones 210/211. Daily pass approx. 8.80 CHF; Half-Fare Travelcard highly recommended
- Regional Travel
- SBB Trains to Zurich (60 mins), Appenzell (40 mins), and Bregenz, Austria (40 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Kantonsspital St. Gallen (Rorschacher Str. 95)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Place St. Gallen (Vadianstrasse 24). Drop-in approx. 30 CHF
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Update Fitness St. Gallen (Multiple locations). Short-term passes approx. 20 CHF
- Laundry Services
- Jet Wash (Schmidgasse 3). Self-service laundromat
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- JustEat.ch and UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- St. Galler Bratwurst (Note: Do NOT ask for mustard, it is considered an insult to the butcher)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Tibits St. Gallen (Bahnhofplatz 1a). Buffet-style vegetarian
- Best Dessert Spots
- Confiserie Roggwiller (Multergasse 17) for 'Biberli' (honey-gingerbread)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Denner, Aldi Suisse, and Lidl for discount groceries
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Galaxus.ch and Digitec.ch for electronics and general goods
- Grocery Delivery
- Coop.ch and Migros Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Bermuda-Dreieck (Bermuda Triangle) in the Old Town
- Local Brewery
- Schützengarten (St. Jakob-Strasse 37). Switzerland's oldest brewery
- Wine Bars
- 1733 - Weinhaus & Lokal (Gallusstrasse 24)
- Street Food Stalls
- Metzgerei Gemperli (Weibergasse 3) for the best takeaway Bratwurst
- Popular International Cuisine
- Lokremise (Grünbergstrasse 7) for modern Mediterranean and international fusion
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Abbey District (UNESCO World Heritage site) including the Cathedral
- Museums & Art Venues
- St. Gallen Abbey Library (Stiftsbibliothek), one of the oldest in the world
- Historical Sites
- The 111 oriel windows (bay windows) scattered throughout the Old Town
- Religious Sites
- St. Gallen Cathedral (Stiftskirche St. Gallus und Otmar)
- Annual Events
- OLMA (Agricultural Fair) in October; St. Gallen OpenAir music festival in June
- Cultural Districts
- Abbey District and the Lokremise cultural center
- Theater Venues
- Theater St. Gallen (Museumstrasse 24)
- Local Markets
- Weekly Market at Marktplatz (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
- Music Scene
- Grabenhalle (Blumenbergplatz) for alternative/indie music
- Street Art
- The 'Stadtlounge' (Red Square), a public lounge area covered in red rubber
- Cooking Classes
- Migros Klubschule St. Gallen (Bahnhofplatz 2)
- Art Galleries
- Kunstmuseum St. Gallen (Museumstrasse 32)
- Historic Buildings
- The Waaghaus at Marktplatz
- Local Heritage
- Textile industry history ('St. Gallen Lace')
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Drei Weieren (Three Ponds) overlooking the city
- National Parks Nearby
- Swiss National Park is far, but Alpstein region (Säntis mountain) is 45 mins away
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 'Brückenweg' (Bridge Path) featuring 18 bridges in the Sitter tobacco valley
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Dreilinden/Männen (above the ponds) for views of the city and Lake Constance
- Birdwatching Locations
- Gübsensee lake on the western edge of the city
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated Feuerstellen (fire pits) in the Peter and Paul Wildlife Park
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Die Post (Swiss Post), DHL, DPD
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Service Provider at Data Quest (Poststrasse 23)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Stadtpark near the Kunstmuseum
- Language Classes
- Migros Klubschule or Benedict Language School
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Kantonsbibliothek Vadiana (Notkerstrasse 22)
- Gaming Lounges
- ManaBar (Davidstrasse 15) for gaming and e-sports
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Swiss Casino St. Gallen (St. Jakob-Strasse 55)
- Community Centers
- GBS St. Gallen community events
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 13,000 CHF per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 520,000 CHF)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 9,500 CHF per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 380,000 CHF)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 12,500 CHF per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 750,000 CHF)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 9,000 CHF per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 540,000 CHF)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 11,500 CHF per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 920,000 CHF)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 8,500 CHF per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 680,000 CHF)
- Corporate Tax
- Varies by commune, approx. 14.5% (Federal + Cantonal)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 35% (can be reclaimed under double-taxation treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 35-40% (Combined Federal, Cantonal, and Communal)
- VAT
- 8.1% (Standard rate as of 2024/2026)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC legislation, but anti-abuse rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, Wealth tax on property value and Eigenmietwert (imputed rental value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Handänderungssteuer (Transfer tax) of 1% of the purchase price
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard residency permits apply. High cost of living, but moderate taxes for high earners.