https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed If you are a new arrival in Switzerland, or are about to move here, you may be uncertain about what portion of your income will be eaten up by rent. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260505/does-switzerland-still-have-a-30-percent-rule-for-rent Tue, 05 May 2026 10:31:28 +0200 does-switzerland-still-have-a-30-percent-rule-for-rent You may think that ‘lower prices’ and ‘Switzerland’ should never be mentioned in the same sentence. But online resources can actually help you save on some purchases. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240606/the-swiss-websites-that-can-help-you-save-money Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:53:07 +0200 the-swiss-websites-that-can-help-you-save-money Only 276 kilometres lie between Switzerland’s two largest cities, but distance is not the only thing that separates Switzerland's German and French-speaking hubs. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191031/swiss-city-differences-updated Thu, 31 Oct 2019 16:15:22 +0100 swiss-city-differences-updated Rents, taxes, and health insurance premiums vary considerably from one Swiss municipality to another. A new analysis shows the extent of these differences – and where you can live (relatively) inexpensively. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260223/revealed-the-cheapest-places-to-live-in-switzerland-in-2026 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:12:56 +0100 revealed-the-cheapest-places-to-live-in-switzerland-in-2026 You already know that Switzerland in general, and its biggest cities in particular, are expensive. How much can you expect to spend in 2026 in your region? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260212/compare-how-much-does-it-cost-to-live-in-switzerlands-major-cities-in-2026 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:16:25 +0100 compare-how-much-does-it-cost-to-live-in-switzerlands-major-cities-in-2026 In terms of prices, there is both good and bad news for Swiss consumers: while some services will become cheaper in 2026, you will have to pay more for others. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251223/what-will-be-more-and-less-expensive-in-switzerland-in-2026 Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:06:44 +0100 what-will-be-more-and-less-expensive-in-switzerland-in-2026 Though they haven't provided specifics, Switzerland’s major retailers are announcing price reductions on many products this year. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260108/migros-to-aldi-how-swiss-supermarkets-will-cut-their-prices-in-2026 Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:13:47 +0100 migros-to-aldi-how-swiss-supermarkets-will-cut-their-prices-in-2026 If you are moving to Switzerland, or are newly arrived here, you may be wondering what you will spent most of your salary on. Here are some answers. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251021/in-numbers-what-are-the-biggest-household-expenses-in-switzerland Tue, 21 Oct 2025 18:28:28 +0200 in-numbers-what-are-the-biggest-household-expenses-in-switzerland A tranquil, peaceful and safe country, Switzerland's appeal is undeniable. But can US citizens retire here? https://www.thelocal.ch/20211018/explained-how-americans-can-retire-in-switzerland Mon, 18 Oct 2021 18:00:43 +0200 explained-how-americans-can-retire-in-switzerland Anecdotal and observational evidence, as well as numerous comments on social media, indicate that eating in Swiss restaurants can cost you a lot. But a new international study refutes this. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250923/is-eating-out-in-switzerland-actually-cheap-if-you-work-in-the-country Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:04:24 +0200 is-eating-out-in-switzerland-actually-cheap-if-you-work-in-the-country Switzerland regularly tops rankings of the most expensive countries in the world and it is unlikely to win any prizes for being a budget destination. But not everything in the country costs a small fortune. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200218/what-is-actually-cheap-in-switzerland-prices-costs Tue, 18 Feb 2020 16:54:45 +0100 what-is-actually-cheap-in-switzerland-prices-costs The majority of Switzerland's residents can expect to pay less for their electricity next year. This is the situation in your community. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250910/which-swiss-households-will-see-electricity-bills-fall-in-2026 Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:00:48 +0200 which-swiss-households-will-see-electricity-bills-fall-in-2026 Prices of some products and services Switzerland have fallen slightly, while others went up, new data reveals. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250826/whats-getting-more-expensive-in-switzerland-this-autumn Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:18:51 +0200 whats-getting-more-expensive-in-switzerland-this-autumn Yes, this may sound like an oxymoron, since ‘Switzerland’ and ‘money saving’ are not usually used in the same sentence. But despite what you may think, you can cut some of your costs while vacationing in this expensive country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230621/explained-how-to-save-money-on-holiday-in-switzerland Wed, 21 Jun 2023 16:13:39 +0200 explained-how-to-save-money-on-holiday-in-switzerland The arrival of the school holidays in Switzerland doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot on expensive activities to keep the kids entertained. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240701/the-best-ideas-for-what-to-do-with-kids-in-switzerland-this-summer Mon, 01 Jul 2024 19:13:26 +0200 the-best-ideas-for-what-to-do-with-kids-in-switzerland-this-summer Sure, there are many adverts on the internet that claim to offer cheaper this and that, but more often than not, clicking on the link could cost you even more money (and time). However, there are also credible sites in Switzerland that will actually help you spend less. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220601/six-no-gimmick-websites-that-help-swiss-consumers-save-money Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:10:44 +0200 six-no-gimmick-websites-that-help-swiss-consumers-save-money If you are a new arrival in Switzerland, or are about to move here, you may be wondering whether foreign nationals are taxed at a higher rate than the Swiss. This is what you should know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250424/do-foreigners-pay-more-taxes-in-switzerland Thu, 24 Apr 2025 14:21:42 +0200 do-foreigners-pay-more-taxes-in-switzerland Eight percent of people in Switzerland, one of the richest countries in the world, were living below the official poverty line in 2023, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) said on Monday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250331/one-in-10-struggling-financially-in-switzerland-officials Mon, 31 Mar 2025 17:07:42 +0200 one-in-10-struggling-financially-in-switzerland-officials While the cost of living is generally high across Switzerland, in some cantons and municipalities, your purchasing power will be greater than in others. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250331/spening-power-where-in-switzerland-will-your-money-go-the-furthest Mon, 31 Mar 2025 14:36:09 +0200 spening-power-where-in-switzerland-will-your-money-go-the-furthest Switzerland's childcare costs are among the world's highest, although there are some ways to save. Originally from the United States but now raising children in Zug, writer Ashley Franzen takes you through some of the most important things you need to consider when finding childcare in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220805/five-things-to-consider-when-organising-childcare-in-switzerland Fri, 05 Aug 2022 13:27:58 +0200 five-things-to-consider-when-organising-childcare-in-switzerland