Zurich: Seventh in our ranking
In the whole of Switzerland there are about 30% of people from other countries who have chosen to live there, whether for professional or other reasons. And Zurich, due to its strong industrial and financial capacity, is one of the cities with the highest number of these expatriates who have moved to Switzerland in search of a new home.
In the ranking resulting from the survey, Zurich comes in seventh place in a very positive way and does so thanks to the way it shines in categories such as education and public transport, in both of which it takes first place. It is also, of course, because of the security it conveys to those who live in the city.
Zurich is an interesting city with less than 450,000 inhabitants and twelve rich districts connecting the traditional with the modern under the presence of its namesake lake. It is a regular on lists of the world’s best cities to live in and has also made a positive impact on our survey results.
The city, capital of the canton of Zurich, which is made up of cities such as Winterthur and Uster, has established itself in seventh place in our global ranking. It is also one of the places in Switzerland that is of most interest to residents from abroad.
Although Zurich was once a city where freezing temperatures were common in winter, environmental changes have meant that the cold is increasingly being kept in check to a point where snowfall is no longer as common as it once was. This has meant that, for example, ski resorts that were once full of pure white snow now have to resort to artificial snow support.
For the resident, however, this means that the temperature is so stable that it is pleasant all year round. Summers are not as hot as in other European cities and in winter the temperature now averages between 2 and 5 degrees Celsius.
In our top of the best cities to live in based on climate, Zurich does not feature in the top 10 as there are still better places to live based on temperature. However, it is true that Zurich is changing a lot in terms of temperature and is becoming more and more attractive due to its year-round stability.
Our respondents’ experience of living in Zurich has placed the Swiss city at the top of the transport category. There are many good reasons to understand and justify this, such as the precision of the various local train lines that connect the entire city with very good routes. Not only that, but the frequency with which these trains run is also very high, which helps to ensure that you never have to wait longer than necessary to make the journey.
Alongside the train there are other transport options, such as buses and trams. One of the most interesting aspects of the way Zurich’s transport system is laid out is the excellent connection and synergy between the different methods available.
Everything is so well connected that residents and citizens can get to where they need to go in a short space of time and in a convenient manner. This is why they are in first place in the table ahead of other cities with good transport, such as Madrid and Berlin, which are in second and third place respectively.
Education is another pillar of Zurich’s society, and the government is keen to ensure that as many students as possible can go on to higher education. The statistics speak for themselves and show that 17% of the city’s total population has managed to complete a university education, which is a very positive figure. It is also important to know that, of the total number of graduates, around 20% are foreign nationals who are studying and living in Zurich.
There are a number of internationally renowned universities, such as the University of Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the Zurich University of the Arts, as well as a number of international schools where parents who have moved to Zurich can enrol their children for a good education.
Some of these schools include the Obersee Bilingual School, the British Hull’s School or the Zurich International School. Learning at these schools helps to shape future citizens who will have a good chance of going to university.
Zurich’s gastronomic impact is not negative, but it comes tenth on our list and that means it is below much tastier options. Some of the cities that beat Zurich in this respect are Copenhagen, Madrid or Berlin.
In general, you will find that Zurich’s food is hearty, possibly with traditional recipes that were prepared to help get you through the colder winter months. Some of the region’s most characteristic dishes include Chnöfli, the Swiss interpretation of pasta with cheese, or Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, a meat with a creamy accompaniment typical of the region.
Zurich also has a long tradition of making sweets, of which mandelfisch or tirggel are famous. This type of diet is balanced and although it doesn’t have the glamour or flavour of dishes from other European cities, it deserves a mention and a taste.
The city’s airport goes by two names, either Zurich International Airport or Kloten Airport, due to the facilities being in this region. However, it is only a 15 km drive from the city centre, so it is not far away. The important thing is that the airport has very good connections to get there easily. All you have to do is take a train from the city, which takes only 9 minutes.
It is the airport with the highest passenger volume in Switzerland and has a large number of international connections through flights operated by airlines such as Swiss, Edelweiss Air, Vueling and easyJet, among others.
Zurich has sister city agreements with San Francisco and Kunming, and activities are often organised to help people from different places get to know each other better, share life experiences and spread tolerance around the world.
It should come as no surprise that Zurich was ranked second in our survey. It is an absolutely safe city where you have very little to worry about while living in the city. Crime, conflicts or other problems that reduce the cities’ ability to guarantee its residents a peaceful life are under control and do not become real problems for the inhabitants.
Although it is a low crime city, the Zurich police are prepared to respond to any incident that may occur. This, coupled with a strong campaign to make potential offenders aware of the consequences of their actions, has helped the city to significantly reduce its levels of conflict.
For people who like to live quietly, go out and about and not have to worry about incidents, Zurich is a lifestyle choice that is always of interest.
The efforts that the city of Zurich has made so far to be sustainable have not had as efficient an impact as those of many other points on the map in Europe. While there is a focus and profile on becoming a fully sustainable city, so far the actions taken by the government have not been sufficient to achieve this.
Zurich has many advantages and positive aspects, but sustainability is not one of them. The city’s plans are set out in four pillars with which they want to further support the environment: achieving climate neutrality in the city, having a healthier urban environment, giving nature more presence in the streets and using its resources in a smart way.
When this ambitious sustainability project is implemented, Zurich may well gain in terms of sustainability, but for the time being it is a subject for improvement in the future.
It makes sense that Zurich failed to rank in the cost of living category of our survey, given that it is colloquially known as “the most expensive city in the world”. It is 20% more expensive than London, and that’s considering that England’s capital is one of the most expensive cities you can find in Europe.
But Zurich is even more expensive. Virtually all services, shopping, renting a house and everything else, such as transport, have costs that are far beyond the means of a large number of people. Based on this situation, it can be seen how living in Zurich while teleworking on a salary earned in another country can be complicated.
The amount of money you can earn working in Zurich is at the level of what the city will require to maintain a decent standard of living. But even with that kind of salary, it is a city where the negative balance of high prices is noticeable.
The city’s strategy in its approach to culture changed a few years ago with the intention of making its cultural offerings more attractive to all audiences. This is how they have been introducing more and more diverse plans in theatre, concerts or even in the various museums that have been established within the city.
Its most interesting museums include the National Museum of Zurich, the Rietberg Museum, which has a large collection of works, or the Kunsthaus Museum, whose exterior and interior appearance generate very favourable impressions. For sports fans there is the FIFA Museum and those looking for an alternative experience can visit the Tramway Museum, which tends to make a good impression on children.
It is also common to go to the Zurich Opera House, a place to which residents are already more than used to because it hosts some great shows. Even so, it is clear that Zurich lags a little behind in its museums and other cultural centres compared to the superior possibilities in many European cities.
Zurich is a city that thinks of its residents and not only of tourists, even if it is open to them. As such, there are many leisure centres that are enjoyable for the whole family and where activities are varied. Some of the top recommendations include Seilpark Zürich or Conny-Land. There are many water parks and green areas where you can go for a day out in the summer months or when the weather is nicer.
The only thing it lacks in the top 10 leisure ranking according to the survey results is the ability of other cities, such as Rome or Prague, to offer more variety and more specific spots that become cornerstones of leisure.
At least, however, there is plenty of fun ahead for those who like to go shopping or strolling, as Zurich has pleasant streets and boasts a laid-back city concept where you can always find something fun to do. In the evenings, the historic city centre has plenty to keep you entertained until the early hours of the morning.