Living in Switzerland as a Student - Study in Switzerland

Living in Switzerland as a Student

Switzerland offers a quality of life that consistently ranks among the highest in the world — clean cities, spectacular natural beauty, legendary public transport, and a level of safety and order that feels almost surreal. For students, this translates into a comfortable, well-organized, and strikingly beautiful setting for your studies. The trade-off is cost: everything is more expensive here. This guide helps you navigate daily life and make the most of your time in Switzerland.

Student Cities: A Detailed Comparison

Zurich

Best for: Finance, technology, engineering, ETH Zurich, Switzerland's largest city

Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and financial capital. It hosts ETH Zurich (the country's highest-ranked university), Google's largest European engineering office, and the headquarters of UBS, Swiss Re, and Zurich Insurance. The city is expensive but offers the strongest job market and the most international atmosphere in German-speaking Switzerland. Lake Zurich and the nearby Alps provide stunning recreation.

Lausanne

Best for: EPFL, French-speaking environment, lake life, Olympic capital

Lausanne is a dynamic, hilly city on the shores of Lake Geneva with a distinctly younger feel than Zurich. EPFL and UNIL create a combined campus of 30,000+ students, making the western part of the city a genuine student hub. The city is the Olympic capital (home of the International Olympic Committee) and has a vibrant cultural scene.

Geneva

Best for: International relations, UN and international organizations, multilingual environment

Geneva is the world capital of international cooperation — home to the UN, WHO, WTO, ICRC, and over 200 international organizations. This creates a uniquely cosmopolitan atmosphere. The city straddles the French border, and many students live in nearby France for lower housing costs. Geneva's international job market is excellent for multilingual graduates.

Bern

Best for: Political science, charming old town, more affordable, federal capital

Bern is Switzerland's federal capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its medieval old town, arcaded streets, and bear park give it a unique charm. The University of Bern has strong programs in climate science, space research, and medicine. Bern is more affordable than Zurich or Geneva and has a relaxed, student-friendly atmosphere.

Basel

Best for: Pharmaceuticals, life sciences, art and culture, tri-border location

Basel is Switzerland's pharmaceutical capital — Novartis and Roche are headquartered here, along with hundreds of biotech companies. This creates exceptional career opportunities in life sciences. The city has a world-class art scene (Art Basel, Fondation Beyeler) and a unique tri-border location where Switzerland, Germany, and France meet. Many students live across the border in Germany or France for cheaper housing.

St. Gallen

Best for: Business studies, HSG, smaller city experience

St. Gallen is a smaller city dominated by HSG, one of Europe's best business schools. The student community is tight-knit and international. The city's textile heritage is visible in its architecture. St. Gallen is more affordable than the major cities and offers direct access to the Appenzell countryside and Lake Constance (Bodensee).

City Comparison at a Glance

Housing

Housing is the biggest challenge and expense for students in Switzerland.

University Housing

Most universities operate their own housing or cooperate with student housing foundations:

• WOKO (Zurich) — student housing cooperative with 2,100+ rooms
• FMEL (Lausanne) — manages student housing for EPFL and UNIL
• Cite Universitaire (Geneva) — university housing foundation
• Student housing offices at each university

University housing costs CHF 500-800/month and is significantly cheaper than the open market. Apply immediately upon admission — waitlists can be 3-6 months.

Private Housing (WG/Shared Apartments)

The most common option for students not in university housing:

• wgzimmer.ch — Switzerland's main shared apartment platform
• students.ch — student-specific housing listings
• homegate.ch — general property portal
• flatfox.ch — modern apartment search platform
• Facebook groups — university-specific housing groups

Budget CHF 600-900/month for a room in a shared apartment in most cities.

Transport

Switzerland has arguably the best public transport system in the world.

The Essentials

The Halbtax card is the single best purchase a student in Switzerland can make. At CHF 185/year, it pays for itself within the first few weeks.

Between Cities

• SBB trains — punctual, frequent, comfortable; connect all cities
• Supersaver tickets — book 30+ days in advance on sbb.ch for up to 70% off
• Regional trains — connect smaller towns to the network
• PostBus — yellow postal buses serve mountain villages and rural areas

Food and Eating

Eating in Switzerland is expensive, but there are strategies:

Swiss Food Culture

• Mensa culture — university canteens are central to student social life in Switzerland; much more so than in many other countries
• Swiss specialties — fondue, raclette, rosti, Zurcher Geschnetzeltes; try them all
• Grocery shopping — Migros and Coop are the main chains; Denner, Lidl, and Aldi are cheaper
• Cross-border shopping — students near borders often shop in Germany (Konstanz, Lorrach), France (Annemasse, Ferney-Voltaire), or Italy (Como) for significant savings

Culture and Social Life

Student Organizations

Swiss universities have active student life:

• Fachvereine — departmental student associations (organize events, exam prep, social activities)
• ASVZ (Zurich) / UNIL Sport (Lausanne) — university sports with 100+ activities, mostly free
• ESN (Erasmus Student Network) — events, trips, and parties for international students
• Student bars and cafes — most universities have student-run social spaces
• Cultural associations — from chess clubs to hiking groups to theatre companies

The Swiss Social Style

Swiss culture has a reputation for being reserved, which can surprise students from more outgoing cultures:

• Punctuality is sacred — being late is considered disrespectful
• Quiet hours — noise regulations are taken seriously (typically 10pm-7am and all day Sunday)
• Greetings — Swiss people greet neighbours and strangers; a "Gruezi" (Zurich) or "Bonjour" goes a long way
• Personal space — friendships develop slower but are deep and lasting
• Sunday closures — almost everything is closed on Sundays; plan your shopping accordingly

Outdoor Recreation

Switzerland's natural beauty is one of its greatest student perks:

• Hiking — thousands of marked trails accessible from every city; SwitzerlandMobility app for route planning
• Skiing and snowboarding — world-class resorts within 1-2 hours of most cities; student discounts available
• Lake swimming — clean, swimmable lakes in or near every major city (Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, Lugano)
• Cycling — bike-friendly cities and dedicated cycling routes
• Mountain sports — climbing, paragliding, via ferrata, mountain biking

Healthcare

Health insurance is mandatory for all residents in Switzerland under the KVG/LAMal system.

• Under 25: reduced premiums of approximately CHF 80-120/month
• 25 and over: standard premiums of CHF 200-400/month (varies by canton)
• Deductible: choose between CHF 300-2,500/year (higher = lower monthly premium)
• Coverage: doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, mental health, maternity

University health services are available at all Swiss universities, offering free or reduced-cost medical consultations, mental health support, and preventive care.

Compare student health insurance options for Switzerland →

Safety

Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world:

• Violent crime is extremely rare
• Petty crime is low even by European standards
• Women's safety — Swiss cities are safe for women at all hours
• LGBTQ+ safety — Switzerland legalized same-sex marriage in 2022 and is generally very accepting
• Emergency number — 112 (European emergency); 117 (police); 144 (ambulance); 118 (fire)

Practical Daily Life

SIM Cards and Phone Plans

Useful Apps

• SBB Mobile — essential for train schedules and tickets
• SwissID — digital identity for government services
• wgzimmer.ch — apartment search
• Alertswiss — emergency alerts and safety information
• MeteoSwiss — weather forecasts
• PubliBike / Lime — bike and scooter sharing
• Too Good To Go — discounted surplus food from restaurants and shops

Next Steps

• Review costs and funding — build a detailed budget for your city
• Check visa requirements — residence permit and registration process
• Explore work options — part-time jobs, internships, and post-graduation careers
• Why study in Switzerland — revisit the full picture of what Switzerland offers