Moving to Switzerland

The prosperous, orderly cities and cantons of mountainous Switzerland make for an ideal expat destination. Expat workers have long been integrated into the economy, particularly the financial and diplomatic sectors, where the demand for international workers is high. In fact, over 21 percent of Switzerland’s 7.5 million workers are foreign nationals – and most of these relatively skilled, expert professionals.

The cost of living is exceptionally high, although above average salaries compensate for this. Crime is a rarity, and social problems virtually non-existent. Appropriately for a country famed for its watch making, Switzerland runs likes clockwork, a point of great pride for the fastidious Swiss. For expats this means that living here is a trouble-free, if slightly sanitized, experience.

Switzerland ranks second in quality of life according to the Economist, a reflection of its safe, stable, wholesome lifestyle and solid economy. The few drawbacks to living here include an occasionally insular population of locals that don’t fully welcome expats, and comprehensively cold and snowy winters. But as they say, if life gives you snow, go skiing, and that is precisely what many expats find themselves doing on the world class Alpine slopes around Geneva, Interlaken and St Moritz.