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Get tips, join events & make friends in Zurich
Are you a British citizen in Zurich or thinking about living here? When moving abroad, you’re bound to feel homesick and may need to connect with other Brits who know what it’s like.
Whether you’re craving authentic fish and chips, are looking for some buddies to watch football or rugby with, or need advice about living in Zurich — our community for British expats has got you covered!
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Andrey Vasilyev
I was able to connect with other expats in Zurich who enjoy cycling as much as I do and organize weekly rides.
Elin Gustavson
At the first InterNations event that I attended, I met my wonderful partner. We now live together in a flat next to the Limmat.
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Why you'll love InterNations in Zurich
and countless possibilities for fun and friendship!
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Britons in Zurich: The Pros & Cons of Expat Life
Thinking about moving to Zurich as a Briton? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what British expats in Zurich wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.
What British expats love about living in Zurich
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Nature and clean air are everywhere. 95% of expats in Zurich rate the natural environment positively and 83% air quality, with the lake, mountains, and year-round outdoor sports on the doorstep.
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It's safe, clean, and superbly run. 93% rate personal safety positively, 93% the availability of public transportation, and 62% find bureaucracy easy (vs. 38% globally).
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Incomes and standards are high. Britons single out high salaries, a high standard of living, and excellent healthcare and services.
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It's central and easy to explore. 90% rate the opportunity to travel positively, and 88% getting around on foot or by bike, with a car easy to do without.
The downsides of Zurich for British expats
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It's staggeringly expensive. Just 6% of expats in Zurich rate the general cost of living positively — the lowest kind of score in the survey — and 11% housing affordability.
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Locals can feel cold and closed. Only 13% say making local friends is easy, with Britons describing little spontaneous interaction and a tough culture for professional women.
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The dialect gates integration. Just 19% say the local language is easy to learn, as Swiss German is a barrier.
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Careers can be uncertain. Only 31% rate the local job market positively, with outsourcing and pre-filled job ads a frustration.
For Britons, Zurich offers spectacular nature, safety, high incomes, and a superbly run life at the centre of Europe. The catch is the extreme cost of living and a social scene that stays at arm's length. It rewards those who come for the career and the outdoors over an easy welcome.
Frequent questions about expat life in Zurich
Most internationals enjoy residing along Lake Zurich, attracted by the availability of popular international schools on either side of the lake. Additionally, stores, restaurants, and other facilities in this area are used to catering to English-speaking customers, as most residents are expats.
However, living there can be quite costly. Many people only move to this area if their housing is provided by their employer or if they do not require much space and can manage with a smaller house or apartment.
Popular suburbs and nearby villages on the Gold Coast of Lake Zurich include:
- Zollikon
- Küsnacht
- Erlenbach
- Meilen
And on the Silver Coast:
- Kilchberg
- Thalwil
- Rüschlikon
- Horgen
For a single person to live comfortably in Zurich, you would need about 3,500 CHF net income per month. For a family of four, you’d need about 9,000 CHF.
Let’s break down the average monthly costs of living in Zurich:
| CHF | GBP (approx.) | |
Rent for a studio apartment | 2,100 | 1,950 |
Rent for a small family home | 3,400 | 3,200 |
Utilities (power, water, etc.) | 225 | 210 |
Mobile phone & internet | 30 | 28 |
Basic health insurance | 400 | 380 |
Public transport | 100 | 95 |
Groceries (per person & week) | 70 | 65 |
Meal at a restaurant | 25 | 24 |
Zurich is a very international city, so it’s not too hard to get around with no to very limited local language skills. Still, this will feel limiting soon, especially regarding local social contacts and activities.
So ideally, you treat your time in Zurich as an opportunity to learn some German. There are many language schools or even apps to get you started.
The most challenging moments usually occur when you have official paperwork to do, are looking for a flat, need to see a doctor, etc.
To make your time in Zurich a bit easier, we have collected some services that cater to English speakers (these services are not affiliated with or endorsed by InterNations):
Doctena — Find a doctor that speaks your language and book your appointment with just a few clicks
Universitäts Spital Zürich — University hospital providing urgent care in English
Immigration-Lawyer.ch — English-speaking immigration lawyer to assist you with your needs
Aconta — Tax expert for expats in Zurich
DayInterpreting — Get connected to a native German speaker on your phone and use the loudspeaker to have an instant interpreter with you
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Meet British expats at our events in Zurich
Making friends and building a network in a new city can be hard. Luckily, at our events everyone is from somewhere else and it’s completely normal to introduce yourself to people and ask them about their own expat journey.
You’ll get to know a bunch of international people and other Brits in no time and get first-hand information about your new home. So check our upcoming events and become part of Zurich’s large expat family.
Especially the Newcomers’ Events are a great way to find your feet in the city. Our event hosts, called Ambassadors, will greet you with open arms and introduce you to other newcomers or more experienced expats living in Zurich.
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Find friends to pursue your passions with
Do you want to continue with your hobbies — or discover new ones — while living in Zurich?
There’s a variety of InterNations Groups you can join, including everything from sightseeing to running. These are managed by dedicated Consuls with at least one activity each month, such as eating out at Zurich’s finest restaurants with the DinnerNations Group or visiting a comedy show with the Theater Group.
You’d like to be more active? Then you can look forward to outings into the nearby mountains with the Zurich Hiking Group, discover ultimate frisbee, or join the Sports Group.
There’s something for everyone!
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Enjoy the international experience with InterNations
We’re not just active in Zurich — InterNations offers lively communities in most of Switzerland’s major cities.
If you’re traveling or moving somewhere else in the country, check out our British communities in Bern, Geneva, Lugano, Basel, Lausanne, Lucerne, Zug, Neuchatel Lake, or St. Gallen.
But that’s not all: we have communities in over 420 cities worldwide! So, if you’re in the mood for a nice night out while traveling further abroad, we’ve got you covered: Browse InterNations Communities worldwide.
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British expats in Switzerland
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Other Nationalities in Zurich
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