Essentials
- Population
- 443,000 (City), 1.5 million (Metropolitan)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps, up to 10 Gbps via Salt Home fiber
- Currency & Banking
- Swiss Franc (CHF). 1 CHF ≈ 1.13 USD, 1 USD ≈ 0.88 CHF
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, exceptionally high quality from 1,200+ fountains
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type J (diamond-shaped) and Type C
- SIM Card
- Swisscom (Prepaid: 20 CHF), Sunrise (Airalo eSIM: $10 for 1GB), Salt
- Banking for Expats
- UBS, Credit Suisse, Neon (digital), Revolut widely accepted
- Accommodation
- Visionapartments, City Pop (furnished service apartments)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and TWINT mobile payment accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (Avg. 180 CHF/night), Homelike (Monthly 2,800+ CHF)
- Budget Accommodation
- Zurich Youth Hostel (60 CHF/night), Oldtown Hostel Otter (75 CHF/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Altstadt (Old Town/Niederdorf) for proximity to Lake Zurich and Limmat river
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Wiedikon (Kreis 3) or Enge (Kreis 2) for a local vibe and community
- City
- Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Impact Hub Zurich (Viadukt), 35 CHF/Day; Westhive (Hardturmstrasse), 45 CHF/Day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Kraftwerk (Selnaustrasse), MAME (Seefeld), Coffee (Grüngasse)
- Networking Events
- Zurich Digital Nomads Meetup, Startup Grind Zurich at Trust Square
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Zurich, Zurich Together Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (Standard), Vertt (Local), Taxiphone Zurich
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Züri Velo (PubliBike) - 3 CHF/30min; Voi and Tier scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Strandbad Mythenquai (Lake Zurich), Enge Lakeside Bath
- Top Regional Airline
- Edelweiss Air
- Top International Airline
- SWISS International Air Lines
- Highway Access
- A1 (East-West), A3 (North-South) - Requires 40 CHF annual vignette
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Zürich Hauptbahnhof (HB) - Largest in Switzerland
- Public Transport Passes
- ZVV Network Pass (85 CHF/month for zones 110/Zurich City)
- Regional Travel
- SBB Trains to Lucerne (45 min), Basel (1h), Bern (1h)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- University Hospital Zurich (USZ), Hirslanden Clinic
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Tribe (K3), Sanapur (City Center), Hürlimann Thermal Bath & Spa (60 CHF)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Indigo Fitness (High-end 2,500 CHF/yr), Activ Fitness (790 CHF/yr)
- Laundry Services
- Jet Wash (Self-service, ~8 CHF/load), Bubble Box (Pickup/Delivery)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, Just Eat, Smood
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (Veal in cream sauce) at Zeughauskeller
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Hiltl (Oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world), Tibits
- Best Dessert Spots
- Confiserie Sprüngli (Luxemburgerli), Lindt Home of Chocolate
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Denner, Lidl, Aldi Suisse (Avoid Globus/Manor for budget)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Galaxus.ch (The Swiss Amazon), Digitec
- Grocery Delivery
- Coop.ch, Migros (LeShop)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Langstrasse (Kreis 4) for clubs, Niederdorf for pubs
- Local Brewery
- TurbinenBräu, Dr. Brauwolf
- Wine Bars
- Cloud Wine, Tales Bar, 169 West
- Street Food Stalls
- Sternen Grill (Bratwurst), Zurich Christmas Market stalls (Seasonal)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Co Chin Chin (Vietnamese), Rosso (Pizza/Italian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Grossmünster Church towers, Lake Zurich, Fraumünster (Chagall windows)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Kunsthaus Zurich (Modern/Classical Art), Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum)
- Historical Sites
- Lindenhof Hill (Roman ruins), Guild Houses along the Limmat
- Religious Sites
- Grossmünster, St. Peter's Church (Largest clock face in Europe)
- Annual Events
- Street Parade (August), Sechseläuten (April), Züri Fäscht
- Cultural Districts
- Zürich West (Former industrial area, now artsy/trendy)
- Theater Venues
- Opernhaus Zürich (Opera House), Schauspielhaus Zürich
- Local Markets
- Bürkliplatz Flea Market (Saturday), Rosenhof Market
- Music Scene
- Bogen F (Live music), Kaufleuten (Concerts/Clubbing)
- Street Art
- Rote Fabrik area, Viadukt arches murals
- Cooking Classes
- Migros Klubschule, Hiltl Academy
- Art Galleries
- Hauser & Wirth, Galerie Gmurzynska
- Historic Buildings
- Rathaus (City Hall), Bahnhofstrasse banks
- Local Heritage
- The Blue and White Shield (Zurich Coat of Arms)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Uetliberg Mountain (Top of Zurich, 871m), Adliswil-Felsenegg Cable Car
- National Parks Nearby
- Swiss National Park (Zernez, 2.5h by train), Sihlwald Wilderness Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Limmat River Trail (Zurich to Baden), Lake Zurich Shore Path
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Lindenhof Hill, Waid Viewpoint over the city
- Birdwatching Locations
- Neeracherried Nature Reserve (20 min by train)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Werdinsel (Limmat River), designated fire pits at Uetliberg
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Swiss Post (Die Post), DHL Express Zurich
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Store Bahnhofstrasse, DQ Solutions
- Table Tennis Spots
- सार्वजनिक (Public) tables at Josefwiese Park, Blatterwiese
- Language Classes
- Bellingua, Sprachschule Schneider, Migros Klubschule (Cheap)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Zentralbibliothek Zürich, Law Library (Calatrava design)
- Community Centers
- GZ (Gemeinschaftszentren) e.g., GZ Buchegg, GZ Wipkingen
- Gaming Lounges
- ManaBar (Kreis 4), E-sport Center Zurich
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Zürich (Gessnerallee 8)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CHF 18,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = CHF 720,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CHF 13,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = CHF 540,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CHF 17,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = CHF 1,050,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CHF 12,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = CHF 720,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. CHF 16,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = CHF 1,320,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. CHF 11,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = CHF 920,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 19.7% (Combined federal, cantonal, communal)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 35% (Refundable for residents)
- Tax System
- Progressive tax system based on residency; worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 40% (Combined for Zurich City residents)
- VAT
- 8.1% (Standard rate), 2.6% (Reduced rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules, but anti-avoidance measures exist
- Property Tax
- No annual property tax in Zurich, but Wealth Tax applies
- Property Transaction Tax
- No transfer tax in Canton Zurich, but notary fees (~0.5%) apply
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No digital nomad visa; high-income earners benefit from lump-sum taxation in some cantons, but not Zurich.