Cities & first steps · 17 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, ranked by the same rule.
| 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 6 Jan 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 23 · Basel 18 · Zug 15 | ReloFinder regions, as of 24 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.
ReadKreis by Kreis: rent per square metre, commute times and where expats actually sign leases.
ReadA mid-2026 reality check on housing, permits and costs after the population vote.
ReadWhere expats find flats in Geneva, from Eaux-Vives to Carouge, with real rents.
ReadCrypto Valley in numbers: taxes, the country's highest median rents and the commute to Zurich.
ReadLower rents than Zurich, 20 minutes away by train: what living in Winterthur is like.
ReadLiving and working in Basel: real costs, neighbourhoods and permits.
ReadLausanne's rents, jobs around EPFL, schools and permits in the canton of Vaud.
ReadCareer options against lower taxes: costs, housing, schools and the commute compared.
ReadHow renting works in French-speaking Switzerland: the régie system, dossiers and platforms.
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.
ReadMoving to Zug: low taxes, a hard housing market and international schools.
ReadZurich district by district: rents, taxes, schools and how long the flat hunt usually takes.
ReadThe big picture: permits, housing, insurance and banking, in the order you need them.
ReadThe top 3 across Switzerland by our ranking: verified Google reviews, weighted by how many there are, captured 24 September 2026. 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…”
Riehen · DE EN FR IT ES
Clients mention 2 consultants by name
“Recently relocated to Basel from US and very lucky to be guided through the integration process by Claudia. So many things managed perfectly including securing a wonderful apartment…”
Zürich · EN DE
Clients mention 2 consultants by name
“I couldn’t recommend Silver Nest Relocation more than enough to anyone searching for an apartment in Zürich’s competitive housing market. From the very beginning, Caroline was a huge help…”
Go further: All regions · Agencies in Zurich · Agencies in Geneva · Agencies in Basel · Agencies in Zug
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