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Zurich
#48 of 124
Europe

Zurich

Switzerland

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Zurich compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Zurich is 38% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Zurich compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$158,550
-$114K (-42%) vs San Francisco
Based on 526 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$116,059
-$56K (-33%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 27%

Community Insights

New

Zurich offers a unique high-risk, high-reward proposition for software engineers. It is arguably the best place in Europe to accumulate wealth, thanks to US-level salaries combined with low taxes. However, this comes at the cost of a high-pressure housing market and a social environment that many expats find isolating. The city is pristine, safe, and efficient, running like clockwork, but it lacks the vibrancy, spontaneity, and affordability of other major tech hubs. Residents often trade 'excitement' for 'stability' and 'savings'.

Resident Sentiment

The sentiment is a mix of financial gratitude and social resignation. Most residents (especially expats) admit they are "trapped" by the golden handcuffs—they love the financial security and safety but frequently complain about loneliness, the difficulty of integration, and the lack of vibrancy. Many plan to stay for a few years to save money and then leave, though the high quality of life often turns temporary stays into permanent ones.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Safety Index

Top 6%

#8

of 124 cities

76.5/100

Current value

Net Income

Top 7%

#9

of 124 cities

$116,059/yr

Current value

Pollution Score

Top 10%

#13

of 124 cities

24.6/100

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Zurich compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$21,492 / m²
114% more expensive than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Zurich to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
9% more expensive than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Zurich

Facebook logo
Facebook
Google logo
Google
Huawei logo
Huawei
Unmatched Earning Potential: Salaries are among the highest globally (Median SWE ~$158k) with relatively low taxes (~26.8%), allowing for savings rates that far exceed other European hubs like London or Berlin.
  • World-Class Quality of Life: Consistently ranked top-tier for safety (#8 globally), cleanliness, and efficiently run public services.
  • Nature Accessibility: Immediate access to Lake Zurich and the Alps makes it a paradise for hikers, skiers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
  • English-Friendly Tech Scene: Major tech hubs (Google has its largest engineering center outside the US here) operate primarily in English, lowering the barrier for professional entry.
  • Efficient Transport: Public transit is punctual, clean, and comprehensive, making car ownership largely unnecessary.

    • The Bad

    • The "Swiss Coconut" Effect: Residents report it is notoriously difficult to make friends with locals; the culture is reserved, and social circles are often closed to outsiders.
    • Eye-Watering Cost of Living: Ranked #123 (very high) for affordability; everyday expenses like childcare, health insurance, and dining out are shockingly expensive.
    • Housing Crisis: Finding an apartment is a "nightmare" with fiercely competitive mass viewings and high rents; buying is out of reach for many (14.6 years of net salary to buy).
    • "Boring" Nightlife: Often described as sleepy and rule-bound; Sundays are dead with shops closed, and quiet hours are strictly enforced.
    • Gloomy Winters: The "Hochnebel" (high fog) creates weeks of gray, sunless weather in winter, which can severely impact mood (#115 for sunshine hours).

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    The Career-Focused Nature Lover. Move here if you are a senior engineer looking to maximize your savings (FIRE aspirants thrive here) or raise a family in a safe, clean environment. It is ideal for those who prefer hiking in the Alps over clubbing until 4 AM and value efficiency and peace over social spontaneity.

    Skip it if...

    The Social Butterfly and Junior Devs. Avoid Zurich if you rely on an active, spontaneous nightlife or easy social integration to feel happy. Junior engineers may struggle to break into the market, and those on a tighter budget will find the cost of living stressful. If you need the buzz of a city like London or Berlin, Zurich will likely feel sterile and boring to you.

    Updated 11/29/2025

    Weather3.4/10-61% vs San Francisco
    Safety77+94%
    Pollution25-50%
    Events11-78%
    3.4/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    14°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    5°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    1,566h/yr-1496h/yr(-49%)
    Hottest Month High
    24°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    -2°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    123/yr+75/yr(+153%)

    Community & Quality

    Zurich community pulse

    Zurich has 11 Luma events listed.

    78% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Tax Rate

    Top 24%

    #30

    of 124 cities

    27%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Top 27%

    #34

    of 124 cities

    11 events on luma

    Current value

    Purchasing Power

    Middle of the pack

    #48

    of 124 cities

    Comfortable Weather

    Bottom 27%

    #92

    of 124 cities

    34/100 weather score

    Current value

    Home Affordability

    Bottom 20%

    #101

    of 124 cities

    ≈14.8 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 2%

    #123

    of 124 cities

    97/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    SWE Affordability
    14.8 years
    10.2 years longer than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    1/yr(same as San Francisco)
    Cloud Cover
    54%(vs 34% in San Francisco)