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Our Methodology and Data Sources

How we estimate cost of living and remaining income in Switzerland

This page explains how Swiss Relocation Assessment produces its estimates, which assumptions are used, and where the underlying reference data comes from.

The objective of the methodology is not to predict exact outcomes, but to provide consistent and comparable scenarios across Swiss cities, municipalities and cantons.

All results should be interpreted as indicative ranges, not precise calculations.

1. Overall Approach

Swiss Relocation Assessment is designed to compare relative financial outcomes between locations, not to calculate exact personal budgets. It enables a practical net salary comparison Switzerland residents and prospective expats can use to evaluate different cantons.

The methodology follows three core principles:

  • Conservative assumptions
  • Consistent logic across locations
  • Focus on differences between cities and cantons

This allows users to understand how and why one location may be more advantageous than another under similar conditions.

2. Income Input

Users provide a gross monthly salary.

Gross income is used because taxation in Switzerland depends heavily on canton, municipality and income brackets. Instead of calculating a single net salary, the tool works with estimated tax ranges, producing a minimum and maximum outcome.

Example:

Gross monthly salary: CHF 10'000

Estimated tax range (Canton Zürich): 22% – 32%

Note: Geneva would be 25% – 38% for the same income.

This results in a net salary range rather than a single number, reflecting real-world uncertainty.

3. Tax Estimation Logic

What is included:

Swiss taxation is composed of:

  • Federal tax
  • Cantonal tax
  • Municipal tax

The tool uses canton-level tax ranges aligned with income brackets to provide Swiss tax estimation that produces a realistic net salary range.

What is not included:

The model does not account for:

  • Individual deductions
  • Marital status
  • Church tax
  • Wealth tax
  • Municipality-specific multipliers

These elements can significantly change final outcomes and are intentionally excluded to avoid false precision.

Official references:

4. Housing Cost Assumptions

Housing is one of the largest cost drivers affecting the cost of living in Switzerland.

The model uses market-average rental ranges depending on:

  • City
  • Position (city center, outskirts, commuter area)
  • Apartment size (number of rooms)

The focus is on typical long-term rental conditions, not premium or short-term listings.

Example:

A 3-room apartment in Zurich city center, Zurich outskirts or nearby commuter municipalities will result in different baseline costs, even within the same canton.

Reference sources:

5. Health Insurance Assumptions

Health insurance premiums vary by canton and age group.

The model uses:

  • Adult premiums (26+)
  • A standard insurance model
  • A standard deductible assumption

For families, children are modeled as a reduced percentage of adult premiums, reflecting typical Swiss pricing structures.

Important note:

Actual premiums vary depending on insurer, deductible and supplementary coverage. The model intentionally avoids insurer-level optimization.

Official references:

6. Food and Grocery Costs

Food and grocery expenses are estimated using:

  • A per-adult baseline cost
  • Reduced consumption weighting for children
  • Economies of scale for households

To reflect regional price differences, city or canton-level proportional multipliers are applied.

This accounts for higher prices in large metropolitan areas and slightly lower costs in smaller cities or rural cantons.

Reference sources:

7. Transportation Assumptions

Transportation costs depend on the selected mobility preference.

For public transport, the model uses city-level monthly pass estimates reflecting real-world regional pricing.

Other mobility options (walking, bicycle, car, motorcycle) are modeled using standardized monthly cost assumptions.

Transport costs are not multiplied by household size, as most transport passes are individual.

Reference sources:

  • Swiss Federal Railways (SBB): sbb.ch
  • Regional transport authorities (e.g. ZVV, TPG)

8. Utilities and Household Costs

Utility costs include:

  • Electricity
  • Heating
  • Water
  • Internet

The estimate adjusts for:

  • Household size
  • Apartment size
  • Seasonal effects
  • Alpine region factors during winter months

This reflects the reality that utilities vary throughout the year and by geography.

Reference sources:

  • Swiss Federal Statistical Office (energy and housing costs): bfs.admin.ch

9. Lifestyle Costs

Lifestyle costs cover discretionary spending such as entertainment, dining, hobbies and personal expenses.

Users select a lifestyle tier (low, medium, high), and the tool applies city-specific multipliers to reflect local cost differences.

These costs are scaled by household size, with diminishing returns for larger households.

10. Output Interpretation

The final output shows a remaining income range — the estimated money left after taxes and costs.

This range reflects both tax uncertainty and cost variability, helping users understand the best- and worst-case scenarios for each city.

The tool is designed for comparison, not precision. Use it to identify promising locations, then verify with detailed research.

Questions?

For methodology questions or data clarifications:

Swiss Relocation Assessment

Independent analytical project