What makes Zurich good for expats?
According to Mercer’s report, Zurich’s selection as the best city is based on “high-quality public services, low crime rates, and a vibrant cultural life.” Efficient infrastructure and a commitment to sustainable development further contribute to its appeal.
The report also highlighted improvements in aviation services: in summer 2024, intercontinental flights increased. From Zurich, SWISS Airlines now offers flights to Seoul, Shanghai, Washington, and Toronto, while Tunisair and other airlines provide connections to Tunis and Djerba.
“In 2024, flights from Zurich were launched to Atlanta, Cluj, Djerba, Košice, and Tunis, making it easier than ever for expatriates to travel home and back,” said James Pearson, an aviation route analyst for Euronews Travel.
Zurich is home to over 400,000 non-Swiss residents, making it the city with the largest foreign community in the country. However, according to Rigby AG, a Zurich-based company specializing in staffing and project services, the city is expensive to live in, especially for renters.
The cost of living in Zurich is 71.8% higher than in Vienna, which ranked second. Specifically, housing rental costs are 127.6% more expensive than in Vienna, and food prices are approximately 65% higher. However, due to higher wages in Zurich, expatriates can improve their standard of living once they start earning.
Zurich is regularly recognized for its high standard of living. In the 2024 ranking of the world's happiest cities, it placed second, after Aarhus in Denmark. Zurich has also topped the IMD Smart City Index for five consecutive years. Furthermore, the European Commission has named it Europe’s most livable city.
Which other European cities attract expats?
Eight of the top 10 cities in Mercer’s quality-of-life index are in Europe, with only Auckland and Vancouver breaking the trend.
Other highly ranked cities include Vienna, which dropped to second place after topping the list in 2023. Geneva in Switzerland rose two spots to third place.
Copenhagen maintained its fourth position, while Amsterdam climbed eight spots to take fifth place. Frankfurt dropped one position to seventh, sharing the rank with Vancouver, while two more Swiss cities—Bern and Basel—secured ninth and tenth places, respectively.
Stockholm in Sweden also achieved a significant improvement, climbing eight places to rank 18th, while Lisbon in Portugal jumped 12 places to secure 27th.
