St. Gallen Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
GBS St. Gallen community events |
| 📦 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) |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 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 |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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. |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING ST. GALLEN