Looking for German Expats in Zurich?

Thinking about moving to Zurich as a German? 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 German expats in Zurich wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• Nature and the outdoors are spectacular. Germans mention them most, and 95% of expats in Zurich rate the natural environment positively and 83% air quality, with lakes and mountains close by.

• It's safe, stable, and superbly run. 93% rate personal safety positively, 90% political stability, and 62% find bureaucracy easy (vs. 38% globally).

• Transport and travel are excellent. 93% rate the availability of public transportation positively and 90% the opportunity to travel, with easy weekend trips around Switzerland and beyond.

• Incomes and quality of life are high. Germans mention more money and security and a great healthcare system, with plenty of free outdoor and cultural options.

• 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.

• Making real friends is very hard. Only 13% say it's easy — locals are friendly but distant — and 42% feel welcome.

• The dialect gates integration. Just 19% say the local language is easy to learn, and Swiss German is a barrier even for Germans.

• It can feel quiet and reserved. Culture and nightlife rate 56%, and the foggy, grey winters wear on people.

For Germans, 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.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our German members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

We asked tens of thousands of expats about their lives abroad in our Expat Insider surveys. In addition to our standard questions, we invite them to share what they like or dislike about their experiences in their own words. Here, we’ve selected some of the most interesting or representative quotes about expat life in Zurich from Germans, grouped into positive and negative opinions.

Let’s start with the positive ones.

On the downside, here's are some negative experiences from German expats in Zurich

InterNations is a place where German expats in Zurich exchange experiences and tips to support each other. The "Cultural Capital Of Switzerland" can be a great place for expats - our community helps you make the most of your experience!

• Browse our Members Network to get to know Zurich’s German expats.
• Take part in our Expat Forums to obtain first hand tips from fellow German expats in Zurich.
• Use the Expat Guide for Zurich to find information on your host city.

Our community in Zurich is also very active offline. Our InterNations Ambassadors organize regular events and various expat activities, e.g. a dinner in Zurich’s hippest restaurant or an outing with other German expats to explore the mountain resort of Zermatt. These activities are a casual way to get to know expats from Germany in your local community as well as Germans in Switzerland nationwide. Interested? Simply become a member and we’ll be happy to welcome you among our Germans living in Zurich!