Cities & first steps · 11 guides
Rents, languages, taxes and neighbourhoods for seven cities, plus the 90-day checklist for your first weeks.
Free for you — agencies pay for introductions, not for ranking.
Rents, language and tax change within 50 kilometres. Zug and Geneva have the fewest empty homes, Zug some of the lowest taxes, and Lugano works in Italian. Start with the 90-day checklist: you register at your commune within 14 days of arriving, so the flat hunt usually starts two to three months before.
Pick your city below. Each city guide links to the agencies with an office or clients there.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Register at your commune | Within 14 days of arrival | ch.ch, as of 24 Sep 2026 |
| Start the flat hunt | 2–3 months before you move | Checklist guide, as of 27 Sep 2026 |
| Empty homes, 1 June 2026 | Canton of Zurich 0.52%, Zug 0.20%, Geneva 0.31% | Federal Statistical Office, as of 1 Jun 2026 |
| Local agencies on ReloFinder | Zurich 31 · Geneva 24 · Basel 20 · Zug 17 | ReloFinder regions, as of 27 Sep 2026 |
Each figure links to its source: an official page, a published price list, a guide or the ReloFinder directory.
Start with the first one. Most open with the short answer, and each shows when it was last updated.
Everything to do from three months out to your first week, including registering within 14 days.
ReadItalian-speaking Switzerland: lower costs than Geneva, lower salaries than Zurich, and why Italian matters.
ReadMoving to Zug: 2026 tax multipliers by commune, the lowest vacancy rate of any canton, schools.
ReadWhere expats find flats in Geneva, from Eaux-Vives to Carouge, with real rents.
ReadBasel's pharma job market, its neighbourhoods and life on the border with France and Germany.
ReadThe capital for newcomers: housing, costs, government jobs and schools.
ReadGeneva's rents by neighbourhood, permits, schools and the practical first steps.
ReadLausanne's rents, jobs around EPFL, schools and permits in the canton of Vaud.
ReadZurich district by district: rents, taxes, schools and how long the flat hunt usually takes.
ReadKreis by Kreis: rent per square metre, commute times and where expats actually sign leases.
ReadCareer options against lower taxes: costs, housing, schools and the commute compared.
ReadThe top 3 across Switzerland: partner agencies we work with directly, whose client work and response times we know, each with at least 10 Google reviews. Not ranked among themselves. No agency can pay to rank.
Zurich · EN DE FR
Clients mention 8 consultants by name
“From day one, Corinne provided exceptional service during our recent relocation. She was friendly, organized, and so helpful when it came to paperwork and registration. Corrine communicates…”
Zug · EN DE FR
“Silvia from Prime Relocation did an outstanding job. We were very happy with the service.”
Geneva · EN FR DE IT
“Welcome Service did an excellent job understanding our needs, helping us find a place, and helping us to settle in.”
Go further: All regions · Agencies in Zurich · Agencies in Geneva · Agencies in Basel · Agencies in Zug
Two minutes of questions, then a consultant from one of our partner agencies gets in touch. Free, with no obligation.
