Get tips & make friends in Zurich
Are you an Indian living in Zurich or thinking of moving here? Get the inside scoop from Indian expats in our InterNations community and discover how to meet them.
After all, exploring Zurich as an expat can be exciting. But there bound to be times when you might crave the company of fellow Indians. Whether you’re searching for an authentic Indian restaurant to satisfy your cravings or need a great spot to watch cricket together with fellow enthusiasts, our community has 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.
Why you'll love InterNations in Zurich
and countless possibilities for fun and friendship!
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Why Indians move abroad … (& how they like it)
Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats and ask them about various aspects of their life. Learn what motivated our Indian members to move abroad. what keeps them there, and what they struggle with the most.
The pros & cons of life in Zurich
No place is perfect, there are always ups and downs. Read on to find out what our Indian members love about their life abroad but also the challenges they face in Zurich.
Pros:
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Healthcare: The quality of healthcare is great. The hospitals in Switzerland rank among the best in Europe.
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Public transportation: The train system in Zurich is efficient, well connected, and almost always on time.
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Safety: Zurich is one of the safest cities in the world. Petty crime is very low and major crimes are a rare occurrence. Walking the streets alone is not an issue, even at night.
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Clean: Zurich is a clean city. The city employees a team of city cleaners but citizens can (and do!) organize their own clean-up sessions to help keep Zurich clean.
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Language: English is not one of the four official languages of Switzerland, but it is still widely spoken, especially in the business sector. That makes it easier to find a job here than in most other European countries.
Cons:
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Cost of living: Zurich is one of the most expensive cities to live in the world. The prices of groceries, rent, and other expenses will take some adjusting to.
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Bureaucracy: Swiss bureaucracy can be difficult to deal with, especially when it comes to work and residence permits.
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Work–life balance: Swiss people have a strong work ethic, and the typical work hours in Switzerland can be long.
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What Indian expats have to say about living in Zurich
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 Indians, grouped into positive and negative opinions.
Let’s start with the positive ones.
On the downside, here's are some negative experiences from Indian expats in Zurich
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Meet Indian expats at our events in Zurich
When you’re new in a city, making friends and building a network can be hard. But don’t worry: at our events, everyone is from somewhere else, too. So, 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 in no time and receive first-hand information about your new home. Check our upcoming events and become part of Zurich’s large expat family. Particularly our Newcomers’ Events are worth a visit: specially geared towards people that are new in town, you’ll be greeted with open arms and introduced to other newbies as well as more experienced expats living in Zurich.
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Frequent questions about expat life in Zurich
In Zurich, many 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 here are expatriates.
However, life here can be quite costly. Many people only move to this area if their housing is provided by their employer or if they don’t 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:
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Zollikon
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Küsnacht
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Erlenbach
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Meilen And on the Silver Coast:
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Kilchberg
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Thalwil
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Rüschlikon
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Horgen
For a single person to live comfortably in Zurich, you would need about 3,500 CHF net income. For a family of four, something closer to 9,000 CHF per month will be needed.
Let’s break down the costs of living in Zurich:
| INR per month | Local currency per month | |
Rent for a studio apartment | 200,000 INR | 2,100 CHF |
Rent for a small family home | 320,000 INR | 3,400 CHF |
Utilities (power, water, etc.) | 21,000 INR | 225 CHF |
Mobile phone & internet | 2,800 INR | 30 CHF |
Basic health insurance | 40,000 INR | 400 CHF (Monthly) |
Public transportation | 9,300 INR | 100 CHF |
Groceries (per person) | 6,500 INR | 70 CHF (per week) |
Meal at a restaurant | 2,300 INR | 25 CHF |
Zurich is a very international city with a sizable expat population. So, it’s not too hard to get around with no to very limited language skills. But this will feel limiting at some point, and you’re bound to run into the proverbial language barrier.
So you best 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. Or you opt for online courses or apps that allow you to improve on your own time and budget.
The most challenging moments usually occur when trying to socialize with locals — or when you have to get official paperwork done, find a flat, see a doctor, and so on. 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):
GPs, |
Find a doctor that speaks your language and book your appointment with just a few clicks |
Urgent care |
University hospital providing urgent care in English |
Immigration assistance | Immigration Lawyer.ch]( https://www.immigration-lawyer.ch/immigration-lawyer-zurich-switzerland-your-english-speaking-immigration-consultant-in-zurich/ )** English-speaking immigration lawyer to assist you with your needs |
Tax advisor |
Tax expert for expats in Zurich |
Instant interpreting service |
Get connected to a native German speaker on your phone and use it to have an instant interpreter with you |
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Our Global Partners
Find friends who share your hobbies
You don’t need to leave your passions behind when moving abroad! There’s a variety of InterNations Groups you can join to continue your hobbies — or discover new ones.
The groups are run 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 to another Swiss city, check out our Indian communities in Bern, Geneva, Lugano, Basel Lausanne Lucerne, Zug, Neuchatel Lake, or St. Gallen.
But that’s not all! As an InterNations member, you can join in on events in 420 cities worldwide. So if you’re in the mood for a nice night out while traveling further abroad, just check out our other communities worldwide.
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Indian expats in Switzerland
Other Nationalities in Zurich
Switzerland Guide Topics
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