Zurich vs Bern
In short: taxes are lower in Zurich, rent is cheaper in Bern and the health premium is lower in Zurich. All metrics in detail:
| Metric | Zurich | Bern | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income tax (single, 80k) | CHF 7'945 | CHF 11'666 | ESTV · 2026 |
| Rent (avg) | CHF 1'768 | CHF 1'319 | BFS Strukturerhebung · 2024 |
| Health premium, standard model (adult) | CHF 619.43 | CHF 644.5 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Lowest health premium (adult) | CHF 368.92 | CHF 401.26 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Average health premium (adult) | CHF 477.08 | CHF 494.42 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Health premium saving potential (adult) | CHF 108.16 | CHF 93.16 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Premium subsidy recipients | 32.3% | 25.6% | BAG KVSTAT T 4.02 · 2025 |
| Premium subsidy per recipient | CHF 2'681 | CHF 2'447 | BAG KVSTAT T 4.08 · 2025 |
| Premium subsidy as share of premium | 61.5% | 53.1% | BAG KVSTAT T 4.08 · 2025 |
| Electricity price | 24.63 | 27.95 | ElCom · 2027 |
| Offences (per 1,000) | 68.05 | 68.58 | BFS PKS · 2024 |
| Violent offences (per 1,000) | 5.85 | 4.31 | BFS PKS · 2025 |
| Vacancy rate | 0.48% | 1.12% | BFS LWZ · 2025 |
| New dwellings (per 1,000) | 4.77 | 2.42 | BFS Bau- und Wohnbaustatistik · 2024 |
| Sunshine | 1'799.5 h | 1'781.9 h | MeteoSwiss · 2025 |
| Jobs | 1'149'866 | 677'492 | BFS STATENT · 2024 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 2.2% | SECO amstat · 2026 |
| Cross-border commuters (share of jobs) | 1.08% | 0.7% | BFS GGS/STATENT · 2024 |
| Median net income | CHF 62'050 | CHF 52'950 | ESTV dBSt · 2022 |
| Naturalisations (per 1,000 foreigners) | 22.7 | 17.4 | BFS/SEM Einbürgerungsstatistik · 2025 |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 0.46% | BFS Demografische Bilanz · 2025 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 9.17 | 8.12 | BFS BEVNAT · 2025 |
| Net migration (per 1,000) | 6.26‰ | 5.59‰ | BFS Demografische Bilanz · 2025 |
| Foreign residents | 29.19% | 18.6% | BFS STATPOP · 2025 |
| Fiscal balance per capita | −CHF 283 | −CHF 169 | EFV FS-Modell · 2024 |
| Cantonal net debt per capita | CHF 2'512 | CHF 5'099 | EFV Finanzstatistik · 2024 |
| Hospital beds (per 1,000) | 3.68 | 4.55 | BFS Krankenhausstatistik · 2024 |
| Cars per 1,000 residents | 471.42 | 514.76 | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Electric share of car fleet | 5.36% | 3.59% | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Electric share of new cars | 19.83% | 21.79% | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Motorbikes per 1,000 residents | 78.65 | 92.85 | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Goods vehicles per 1,000 residents | 43.5 | 58.97 | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Gigabit broadband availability | 92.5% | 75.7% | BAKOM Breitbandatlas · 2026 |
| Public-transport accessibility (ARE index) | 8'882.3 | 3'486 | ARE Erreichbarkeit · 2017 |
| Solar power per resident | 565.9 | 995.1 | BFE Pronovo register · 2026 |
| Population in Energiestadt communes | 70.8% | 50.7% | BFE Energiestadt · 2025 |
| Organic farmland share | 17.87% | 15.21% | BFS Landwirtschaftsstatistik · 2025 |
| Municipal waste per resident | 258.21 | 292.41 | BFS Cercle Indicateurs · 2023 |
| Separately collected waste share | 29.94% | 30.82% | BFS Cercle Indicateurs · 2023 |
Frequently asked questions
Where are taxes lower: Zurich or Bern?
In the canton of Zurich (CHF 7'945 per year).
Where is rent cheaper: Zurich or Bern?
In the canton of Bern (CHF 1'319 per month).