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The world's largest expat community

Looking for Canadian Expats in Zurich?

  • Meet Canadians in Zurich

  • Get information in our Zurich guide

  • Join exciting events and activities

  • Exchange tips about expat life in Zurich

  • Andrey Vasilyev

    I was able to connect with other expats in Zurich who enjoy cycling as much as I do and organize weekly rides.

Get tips, join events & make friends

New in Zurich? Or thinking about moving here? Learn the ins and outs of life in Zurich from our very own expat community.

Living in Zurich will be fun and exciting, but there are bound to be times when you just need a fellow Canadian. Maybe you’re looking for advice about navigating Swiss bureaucracy. Or craving Canadian snacks. Or you simply would like to watch some hockey and are looking for buddies to join you. Our community is sure to have you covered.

An amazing community is waiting for you!

Meet international people at local events

Socialize, enjoy hobbies, and make friends

Get info, and feel at home abroad!

Why you'll love InterNations in Zurich

51,998
members in Zurich
625
Canadian members
48
monthly events
3,103
interest-based groups

and countless possibilities for fun and friendship!

Why Canadians move abroad (& how they like it)

Every year, we run one of the biggest global surveys among on people working and living abroad and ask expats to rate various aspects of their life. Learn what motivates our Canadian members to move, what keeps them abroad, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

The pros & cons of living in Zurich

No place is perfect — there’s always the good, the bad, and the ugly. Find out what our Canadian members love about their life abroad but also the challenges they face in Zurich.

Pros:

  • Healthcare: The quality of healthcare in Zurich gets high marks, with Swiss hospitals regularly ranking among the best in Europe.

  • Public transportation: The system in Zurich is efficient, well connected, and almost always on time.

  • Safety: Zurich is one of the safest cities in the world. Petty crime is very low, and major crimes are a rare occurrence. You’re safe to walk the streets alone at any time.

  • Cleanliness: Zurich is an extremely clean city. The city employs a team of cleaners but citizens can (and do!) organize their own clean-up days, too.

  • Language: English is widely spoken though it is not an official language of Switzerland. It’s common in the business sector, making it easier to find a job here than in most other European countries.

Cons:

  • Cost of living: Zurich is one of the most expensive cities to live in the world. The prices of groceries, rent, and other expenses take some adjusting.

  • Bureaucracy: Swiss bureaucracy can be difficult to deal with, especially when it comes to work and residence permits.

  • Work–life balance: The Swiss have a strong work ethic, and typical work hours in Switzerland can be long. So, if you’re looking for a change in pace from Canada, this could be difficult.

My favorite things about life in Zurich? The safety and the good infrastructure. (Canadian expat in Zurich)
Opinion

Meet Canadian expats at our events in Zurich

Making friends and building a network in a new city can be hard.

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 Canadians in no time and get first-hand information about your new home.

Check our upcoming events and become part of Zurich’s large expat family. Our Newcomers’ Events in particular are geared towards those who’re new to the city. Our Ambassadors will greet you with open arms and introduce you to other newcomers or more experienced expats living in Zurich.

Aug 16, 2025, 1:30 PM
42 attendees
Come let’s get away from the weekly grind. Let’s socialite and network on a 4.5 hour lake cruise. We will cruise all the way around beautiful, historic lake Zurich. Regardless if you are from the Zur
Aug 23, 2025, 9:30 PM
124 attendees
I am very happy to invite you to our next official event at the Icon Club, Let's get together to enjoy another evening with friends, dance, and create some long-lasting memories. Why join us: Our mai
Dear Newcomers, I am excited to invite you to my next August Newcomers Event! Whether you’ve recently joined our community or are interested in learning more what we have to offer, this event is the
Dear All Join us for an evening of Connection and Celebration. Reconnect with old friends, meet new faces, and immerse yourself in an evening filled with laughter, connection and potential. Whether y

Want to meet other Canadians at our events?

Frequent questions about living in Zurich

Where do Canadians live 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 cater 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
How much should I earn to live in Zurich?

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 costs of living in Zurich:

CAD per month Local currency per month

Rent for a studio apartment

3,200 CAD

2,100 CHF

Rent for a small family home

5,200 CAD

3,400 CHF

Utilities (power, water, etc.)

345 CAD

225 CHF

Mobile phone & internet

45 CAD

30 CHF

Basic health insurance

615 CAD

90 CHF

Basic health insurance

140 CAD

400 CHF

Groceries (per person)

440 CAD (per week)

280 CHF (per week)

Meal at a restaurant

40 CAD

25 CHF

Will I be able to survive in Zurich without speaking German?

Zurich is a very international city that receives many foreign tourists every year. So, it’s not too hard to get around with no to very limited local language skills.

Still, this will feel limiting soon, especially when it comes to social contacts and joining in at activities.

So ideally, you treat your time in Zurich as an opportunity to learn some German. There is a wide variety of affordable language schools to get you started. And of course, these days there are also very capable apps that allow you to improve at your own time and budget.

To make your time in Zurich a bit easier, we’ve have collected some services that cater to English speakers in Zurich (these services are not affiliated with or endorsed by InterNations):

GPs, dentists, and more

Doctena Find a doctor that speaks your language and book your appointment with just a few clicks

Urgent care

Universitäts Spital Zürich University hospital providing urgent care in English

Immigration assistance

Immigration-Lawyer.ch English-speaking immigration lawyer to assist you with your needs

Tax advisor

Aconta Tax expert for expats in Zurich

Instant interpreting service

DayInterpreting Get connected to a native German speaker on your phone and use it to have an instant interpreter with you

  • Community Member
    From Canada, living in Zurich
  • Community Member
    From Canada, living in Zurich
  • Community Member
    From Canada, living in Zurich
  • Community Member
    From Canada, living in Zurich
  • Community Member
    From Canada, living in Zurich

Meet other Canadians in Zurich

Our Global Partners

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 bowling to professional networking.

These groups are run by dedicated Consuls with at least one activity each month, such as dinners at Zurich’s finest restaurants with the DinnerNations Group or a comedy show visit 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!

With InterNations events, I was able to network with people who I share interests with such as volleyball and a French speaking club. I also found a nice new cafe spot. (InterNations member)
Opinion

Find other Canadians to share your hobbies with

Enjoy the international experience with InterNations

We’re not just active in Zurich! InterNations offers lively communities in most of Switzerland’s major cities.

Whether you’re traveling or moving to another Swiss city, check out our Canadian 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, you can always join our events in other communities, too. Browse all InterNations Communities worldwide.

  • 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.

Our Global Partners

Canadian expats in Switzerland

Other Nationalities in Zurich

Switzerland Guide Topics

Other Languages