Paradeplatz Zurich_© Denis Linine _ Dreamstime.com
The website homegate.ch has compiled data on rental prices in Zurich, Basel, Bern and Geneva over the last two years. The data shows how rents have risen in these cities and presents them on maps showing prices rises by suburb in each of these cities.
The data presents rental prices for a 70 square metre three-room apartment. The most expense location in Switzerland is Paradeplatz in Zurich where the average rental price is CHF 3,760.
The average for such an apartment in Zurich ranges from CHF 1,370 to CHF 3,760.
Click here for data on Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern.

Related posts: Three Swiss cities

© motortion | Dreamstime.com The Swiss government has been looking at measures to shore up the finances of Switzerland’s pension system for some time. The difference between the official retirement age for women (64) and men (65) is an obvious target. Recently, the Federal Council, Switzerland’s executive, said it would include increasing the retirement age …

The website homegate.ch has compiled data on rental prices in Zurich, Basel, Bern and Geneva over the last two years. The data shows how rents have risen in these cities and presents them on maps showing prices rises by suburb in each of these cities.

Paradeplatz Zurich_© Denis Linine _ Dreamstime.comThe data presents rental prices for a 70 square metre three-room apartment. The most expense location in Switzerland is Paradeplatz in Zurich where the average rental price is CHF 3,760.

The average for such an apartment in Zurich ranges from CHF 1,370 to CHF 3,760.

Click here for data on Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern.

More on this:

Homegate press release (in German)

For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Swiss government has been looking at measures to shore up the finances of Switzerland’s pension system for some time.

© motortion | Dreamstime.comThe difference between the official retirement age for women (64) and men (65) is an obvious target. 

Recently, the Federal Council, Switzerland’s executive, said it would include increasing the retirement age of women from 64 to 65 in a package of reforms aimed at reducing the financial strain on the nation’s pension finances, something made urgent by the large number of baby boomers entering retirement. 

Increasing the official retirement age of women is expected to save CHF 10 billion, according to RTS.

At the same time the Federal Council said it would aim to spend CHF 700 million over 9 years to help with the transition.

© Sebnem Ragiboglu | Dreamstime.com The Swiss bank UBS estimates there could be a shortfall of 500,000 workers in Switzerland in the coming 10 years as the baby boomer generation retires. However, the bank predicts the shortfall will not be even across all industries. Some sectors are expected to stagnate. Workers in these industries might …

The Swiss bank UBS estimates there could be a shortfall of 500,000 workers in Switzerland in the coming 10 years as the baby boomer generation retires.

© Sebnem Ragiboglu | Dreamstime.comHowever, the bank predicts the shortfall will not be even across all industries. Some sectors are expected to stagnate. Workers in these industries might find it harder to find work.

Demand for workers is expected to be high in the health and care sectors but low in manufacturing. In general, growth is expected in sectors that predominantly hire women, while some predominantly hiring men will stagnate. This might push men into traditionally female occupations and increase pay for these jobs as demand outstrips supply.

The bank suggests several solutions for coping with the challenge, including

© David Carillet | Dreamstime.com In Switzerland, the revenue poverty line is income of CHF 27,108 (US$ 27,490) a year for someone living alone and CHF 47,880 (US$ 48,550) for a family of four. In 2017, the percentage of Switzerland’s population living below the poverty line was 8.2% or 675,000 people. In 2016, the percentage …

According to an analysis by the Swiss broadcaster RTS, Switzerland’s reliance on EU exports has declined in recent years. 

Swiss exports – © Alan Stoddard | Dreamstime.comOver the first quarter of 2019, for the first time, exports to the US exceeded those to Germany by more than CHF 1 billion reaching CHF 15.7 billion. Exports to the US have risen from 8.3% to 16.3% of total Swiss exports over the last 30 years. 

Another Swiss export market on the rise is China, which has increased its share of Swiss exports from 3.2% to 7.8% over the last 30 years.

In addition, the share of Switzerland’s exports to the EU has declined from 65.5% to 52.1% over the 30 years to 2018. 

The EU is still Switzerland’s most significant export destination but not quite as significant as it once was.

Swiss exports – © Alan Stoddard | Dreamstime.com
According to an analysis by the Swiss broadcaster RTS, Switzerland’s EU exports have declined in recent years.
Over the first quarter of 2019, for the first time, exports to the US exceeded those to Germany by more than CHF 1 billion reaching CHF 15.7 billion. Exports to the US have risen from 8.3% to 16.3% of total Swiss exports over the last 30 years.
Another Swiss export market on the rise is China, which has increased its share of Swiss exports from 3.2% to 7.8% over the last 30 years.
In addition, the share of Switzerland’s exports to the EU has declined from 65.5% to 52.1% over the 30 years to 2018.
The EU is still Switzerland’s most significant export

In Switzerland, the revenue poverty line is income of CHF 27,108 (US$ 27,490) a year for someone living alone and CHF 47,880 (US$ 48,550) for a family of four.

© David Carillet | Dreamstime.comIn 2017, the percentage of Switzerland’s population living below the poverty line was 8.2% or 675,000 people. In 2016, the percentage was 7.6%.

Those most likely to be below the poverty line are those in single parent families (12.4%), those not working (22.3%), those with no more than a school education (12.9%) and those 65 or over (15.2%). Among those 65 or over the rate rises to 24.1% of those living alone.  

Welfare payments reduce poverty substantially. A study in 2017 estimates the level of poverty would double without these transfers. In 2015, 15.9% instead of 7.0% of

Geneva – © Hai Huy Ton That | Dreamstime.com
In 2019, Switzerland came top overall in a ranking of destinations for expatriates to live and work, moving up from eighth last year.
Singapore, which had held the top spot for four years in the HSBC’s list of the best countries for expatriates, dropped to second place.
Switzerland scored highly on salaries (1st), stability (1st), education (2nd) and quality of life. 82% of expats say they experienced an improvement in quality of life after moving to Switzerland.
The average Swiss expat salary of US$111,587 is 47% higher than the $75,966 mean pay across the 33 countries surveyed. On disposable income Switzerland came 2nd, behind the UAE. However, living in Switzerland is

A generation ago millionaires were relatively rare. These days it is fairly easy to rub shoulders with one.

According to a report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) there were 22 million US$ millionaires worldwide in 2018.

One driver of the rising number of millionaires is inflation. A million dollars isn’t worth what it once was. Another is rising average age.  An average 65 year old is worth far more than an average 20 year old. As life goes by assets accumulate before they’re spent in retirement.

A million of today’s dollars would buy only 152,000 1970 dollars. And, the average age in Switzerland rose from 32 to 42 over the same period, closer to the age when wealth typically reaches its peak.

According to data from BCG, 7.5% of Switzerland’s population is a

In 2019, Switzerland came top overall in a ranking of destinations for expatriates to live and work, moving up from eighth last year.

Geneva – © Hai Huy Ton That | Dreamstime.comSingapore, which had held the top spot for four years in the HSBC’s list of the best countries for expatriates, dropped to second place.

Switzerland scored highly on salaries (1st), stability (1st), education (2nd) and quality of life. 82% of expats say they experienced an improvement in quality of life after moving to Switzerland.

The average Swiss expat salary of US$111,587 is 47% higher than the $75,966 mean pay across the 33 countries surveyed. On disposable income Switzerland came 2nd, behind the UAE. However, living in Switzerland is expensive. “Be aware of the cost of housing and health care when

Switzerland’s Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) recently published the results of its farm inspections in 2018.
© Melissa Mahoney | Dreamstime.com
35% of the 10,647 inspections were done without warning, a percentage above the 10% minimum.
87% of farms were found to be operating on or above minimum Swiss animal welfare standards, while 13% were below the minimum.
According to an RTS interview, many of the infractions were oversights, such as not giving an animal water on a hot day.
Others however, were more serious. In 2016, around 10% of infractions were serious, according to RTS.
In 2018, there were 613 legal judgements for animal mistreatment against farmers and animal transporters.
At the same time, Switzerland is a trailblazer for animal welfare. Switzerland was the

© Andor Bujdoso | Dreamstime.com The gap between Switzerland’s official retirement age – 65 for men and 64 for women – and average life expectancy is long. Life expectancy at 65 is 20 years for men (85) and 23 for women (88). More and more people are questioning the viability of living for two decades …

As the 30 June 2019 expiry date for Swiss-EU stock market equivalence approaches, the National Council, Switzerland’s parliament, has given a clear mandate to extend negotiations over the nation’s relationship with the EU.
© Denis Linine | Dreamstime.com
The negotiations, which began in 2014, are centred on the Framework Agreement, an arrangement designed to replace the patchwork of deals Switzerland has with the EU, deals that include free movement of people, mutual recognition of industrial standards, agricultural products, air transport and land transport, along with equivalence for Switzerland’s financial services sector.
Stock market equivalence makes a trade on the Swiss stock exchange equivalent to a trade on an exchange in an EU country. This allows trades to be pooled across

Switzerland’s government is aiming to make it easier to access medical marijuana, which is used by those suffering from cancer or other serious medical conditions.
© Olegmalyshev _ Dreamstime.com
The proposed rules would make it possible for doctors to directly prescribe cannabis as part of their treatment, said the Federal Council in a statement.
Currently, patients have to apply for an exception from the Federal Office of Public Health to get a prescription. Around 3,000 people were granted an exception last year.
The growing, processing and sale medical of cannabis would all become possible under a regulated system.
However, non-medical cannabis would continue to be illegal.
A formal consultation period runs until the middle of October 2019.
More on this:Federal Office of Public Health

The gap between Switzerland’s official retirement age – 65 for men and 64 for women – and average life expectancy is long. Life expectancy at 65 is 20 years for men (85) and 23 for women (88).
© Andor Bujdoso | Dreamstime.com
More and more people are questioning the viability of living for two decades or more without working, particularly when the population is aging and the pension system is crumbling.
However, rather than raising the official retirement age, some favour financial incentives to tempt people to work longer. The percentage of people over 65 in Switzerland working is low (12.5% in 2018), although it is slowly rising. It was 9.5% in 2010.
This week, Peter Hegglin, a member of the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, suggested relooking at the incentives in place,

© Marc Bruxelle _ Dreamstime.com In 2018, Switzerland and the EU struck a deal to extend Swiss stock market equivalence until 30 June 2019, a date fast approaching. Stock market equivalence makes a trade on the Swiss stock exchange equivalent to a trade on an exchange in an EU country. This allows trades to be pooled …

In 2018, Switzerland and the EU struck a deal to extend Swiss stock market equivalence until 30 June 2019, a date fast approaching.
© Marc Bruxelle _ Dreamstime.com
Stock market equivalence makes a trade on the Swiss stock exchange equivalent to a trade on an exchange in an EU country. This allows trades to be pooled across countries, something that supports global trade and improves international market liquidity, a win-win for all traders.
For this reason, the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) argues Switzerland should be granted indefinite stock market equivalence.
However, stock market equivalence, like trade access, can be used as a bargaining chip for other things. And, this is what appears to be happening with Swiss stock exchange equivalence.
The EU has been pressuring Switzerland to

© Andrii Yalanskyi | Dreamstime.com One idea for containing rising healthcare costs was to remove the possibility of changing health insurance deductibles every year, making it possible only every three years. If people are able to switch from high to low deductibles annually then they can save money by opting for a high deductible one …

One idea for containing rising healthcare costs was to remove the possibility of changing health insurance deductibles every year, making it possible only every three years.
© Andrii Yalanskyi | Dreamstime.com
If people are able to switch from high to low deductibles annually then they can save money by opting for a high deductible one year, while postponing visits to the doctor until the following year when they opt for a low one. Locking deductibles for three years would reduce this practice, save the system money and, it was hoped, make people think more about how they could improve their health and avoid the doctor.
However, the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, and parliament didn’t like the idea and have rejected it, according to 20 Minutes.
The main reasons for rejecting

The National Council, Switzerland’s parliament, supported a motion that would end the transfer of debt from unpaid health insurance premiums to young adults, according to 20 Minutes.
© Fizkes | Dreamstime.com
Under the current system, when young adults reach the age of 18 they must pay any health insurance premiums that were not paid on their behalf by their parents when they were children.
Recently, 174 members of parliament voted to stop this practice. Only 2 voted not to.
Some young Swiss residents get saddled with debts of thousands when they turn 18 because of unpaid childhood health insurance premiums. In addition to needing to pay off these debts, some struggle to find a landlord prepared to rent to them because their name is on the official debt-collection register.
Rather than

© RESTAURANT DE L’HÔTEL DE VILLE A ranking by Elite Traveler placed the restaurant Hôtel de Ville de Crissier first in a list of the world’s 100 best restaurants, eight places higher than last year. The ranking is based on the votes of readers of the magazine, which is distributed to private jet companies around …

A ranking by Elite Traveler placed the restaurant Hôtel de Ville de Crissier first in a list of the world’s 100 best restaurants, eight places higher than last year.
© RESTAURANT DE L’HÔTEL DE VILLE
The ranking is based on the votes of readers of the magazine, which is distributed to private jet companies around the world.
Franck Giovannini, the restaurant’s chef, follows a long line of award winning chefs at the restaurant who include Frédy Girardet, Philippe Rochat and Benoît Violier.
The 3-Michelin starred restaurant, which serves French cuisine, is located in Crissier, not far from Lausanne, in the canton of Vaud.
The restaurant offers a tasting menu for CHF 390.
More on this:Full top-100 list (in English)Restaurant website
For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us

© Nikittta | Dreamstime.com – Click to enlarge The Swiss Hotel Association recorded a 0.7% increase in overnight stays during the 2018/2019 winter season. From November to April, 16.7 million overnight stays were recorded in Switzerland, 8.8 million by foreign visitors and 7.9 million by Swiss travelers. The increase was highest among foreign visitors. Nights …

The Swiss Hotel Association recorded a 0.7% increase in overnight stays during the 2018/2019 winter season.
© Nikittta | Dreamstime.com
From November to April, 16.7 million overnight stays were recorded in Switzerland, 8.8 million by foreign visitors and 7.9 million by Swiss travelers.
The increase was highest among foreign visitors. Nights spent by foreign visitors rose 1% to 8.8 million nights. The steepest rise was among Americans who spent an extra 71,000 nights in Swiss hotels, a rise of 7% compared to the season before. The number of Asian visitors also rose by 41,000 nights, a rise of 2.5%. French (+9,200 nights) and Belgian (+7,200 nights) visitor numbers were up too.
However, the rise was not universal and visits by some nationalities were lower. The British led the way here with

© Georgejmclittle | Dreamstime.com The National Council, Switzerland’s parliament, rejected a motion to force Swiss mobile phone operators to remove EU roaming charges. 99 voted against, 78 for and 14 abstained, according to the newspaper 20 Minutes. In 2017, the European Union (EU) forced EU operators to stop charging their customers extra for calls made …

The National Council, Switzerland’s parliament, rejected a motion to force Swiss mobile phone operators to remove EU roaming charges. 99 voted against, 78 for and 14 abstained, according to the newspaper 20 Minutes.
© Georgejmclittle | Dreamstime.com
In 2017, the European Union (EU) forced EU operators to stop charging their customers extra for calls made outside their home country but within the EU. This left Swiss mobile phone users among the few still paying extra for calls in neighbouring countries.
These roaming charges are borne mainly by customers with low cost pay-as-you-go plans. Most Swiss mobile phone users on subscriptions have some free roaming included in their monthly package.
Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter, the parliamentarian who put the motion forward, argued that it is

Next Friday, 14 June 2019, women across Switzerland plan to go on strike as part of a global movement calling for gender equality and an end to violence against women.
Source: Facebook – grevefeministe
Over the last 10 years, an average of 25 people have been killed annually as a result of domestic violence in Switzerland. 75% of the victims were women or girls. Women are more likely than men to be victims of other more prevalent forms of domestic violence too, and foreign women and girls in Switzerland more than twice as likely to be victims of domestic violence from their partner as Swiss women.
In Switzerland, women overall get paid less than men. In 2016, the was a 12% overall difference in median pay.
However, overall pay differences can be misleading. A study by recruitment firm Korn