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Countries · Student guide

svizzera: guide to moving and studying

Updated on 24 May 2026

Cost of living
Very high

Typical spending band for a student

Language
DE / FR / IT

Main language to handle day to day

Currency
CHF

Local currency for banking and payments

Entry
EU: no visa

Non-EU: student visa or permit required. EU: local registration only

The 6 guides

Everything about svizzera, in 6 guides

One guide for each concrete need, from visas to housing: start with the one you need now.

Start here

What to do first for svizzera

Resolve the decisions that can block your move before comparing cities or reading every detail.

Check entry, visa, and document rules Start with eligibility, deadlines, and official procedures for your situation. Check the lease and upfront housing costs Understand deposits, guarantees, contracts, and student housing before paying. Arrange healthcare before arrival Confirm insurance, enrollment rules, and where to get help once you arrive.

Your checklist

Before departure and after arrival in svizzera

Use this as an order of work, then open the linked guide before acting on a legal or financial requirement.

  1. Accommodation with a registrable contract at Gemeinde
  2. Cantonal Migration Office Permit / Confirmation
  3. Open CHF account (PostFinance, UBS, cantonal bank)
  4. Take out basic insurance within 3 months (better now)
  5. University registration + student card
  6. SIM Swisscom/Salt/Sunrise or prepaid
  7. Buy regional or semi-annual transport subscription
Move checklist Plan documents and deadlines step by step

Plan your money

svizzera: cost of living, rent, and monthly budget

Start with housing, food, transport, healthcare, and setup costs. Treat estimates as planning ranges and verify local prices before committing.

Open the cost and money guide Use the free cost-of-living calculator

Cities and neighborhoods

Where to live in svizzera: student cities and costs

Neighborhoods, rent, universities, transport and safety: everything you need to choose where to move.

Zurigo
  • from 850 CHFroom/month
  • 5universities

The economic capital of Switzerland and one of the world's major financial and technology hubs, Zurich offers top-notch salaries, first-class safety and model public transport. It is home to the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and the University of Zurich, among the best universities in Europe. The downside is the cost of living, among the highest in the world: very expensive rents and a very tough real estate market. You live on the lake, with mountains an hour away and a quality of life that is constantly at the top of the world rankings.

Open city guideGinevra
  • from 900 CHFroom/month
  • 5universities

World capital of diplomacy and heart of French-speaking Switzerland, Geneva is home to the UN, WHO, CERN and hundreds of international organizations and NGOs, as well as a large banking and luxury hub. It is a small, cosmopolitan and safe city, overlooking the lake with the famous Jet d'Eau and the Alps just a stone's throw away. Home to the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute. The cost of living is among the highest in the world, with one of the most difficult rental markets, but salaries and quality of life are at the top.

Open city guideBasilea
  • from 800 CHFroom/month
  • 5universities

Swiss capital of culture and pharmaceuticals, Basel is located on the Rhine at the corner of the three borders with Germany and France. It is the city of life sciences (world headquarters of Roche and Novartis), museums (almost 40, including the Kunstmuseum and Fondation Beyeler) and Art Basel. Home to the oldest university in Switzerland (1460), it is compact, safe and crossed by the Rhine, where in summer you dive to be carried by the current. High cost of living, but a little more affordable than Zurich and Geneva, with a unique international and tri-national dimension.

Open city guideLugano
  • from 640 CHFroom/month
  • 5universities

The main city of Italian Switzerland, Lugano combines Mediterranean charm - lake, palm trees, mild climate - with Swiss solidity. It is an important financial centre, home to the University of Italian Switzerland (USI) and SUPSI, with a strong international footprint and proximity to Milan (just over an hour by train). Italian is spoken, making it the most natural gateway into Switzerland for Italians. The cost of living is high, but more affordable than Zurich, Geneva and Basel, and many cross-border commuters live in nearby Italy.

Open city guide

Local context

svizzera: what really changes

Use the destination-specific notes to understand trade-offs, common mistakes, and local differences.

Overview

In Switzerland, the real leap is not just rent, but the combination of sick pay, deposit, half-yearly premium and daily expenses in CHF. The administrative order is high: those who arrive prepared live well, those who suddenly feel the cost immediately.

What really changes here

  • Compulsory health insurance (LAMal/KVG): free cash choice, significant monthly premium
  • Residence permit for study related to admission and demonstrable financial means
  • High rents even in "medium" cities; precise contracts and tenant register
  • Transportation: GA/Halbtax or regional passes — car not needed on urban campuses
  • Four national languages: documents and services change between canton German, French, Italian
  • Payments: dominant TWINT; essential CHF account

Ideal if…

  • Those with a solid bag or family that covers part of the CHF budget
  • Students of engineering, hospitality, research with a clear contract
  • Lovers of the outdoors, urban safety and punctual transport
  • Ticino or Romandia if you prefer Italian/French

Harder if…

  • "Erasmus Spain" style budget without CHF adjustment
  • Cheap Studio Flats in Zurich/Geneva Last-Minute
  • You don't want to compare insurance premiums before arrival
  • You expect fast bureaucracy like in low-cost EU countries
Mistakes to avoid
  • Remaining without basic insurance — penalties and risk
  • Underestimating excess and insurance model
  • Sign unauthorized subletting in regulated buildings
  • Spend the entire budget of the first month without CHF buffer per deposit

Verification

Official sources and last update

Legal and administrative details are kept in the relevant guide so they are not copied out of context.

Where to verify the information

Each topic guide links to the competent official authorities. Always check the rule that applies to your citizenship, residence, purpose, and length of stay.

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