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Italy vs Switzerland

Switzerland is {pct} {word} than Italy. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in Switzerland to match Italy.

Italy vs Switzerland at a glance — Switzerland is 69% more expensive than Italy overall. Average net salary: $6,000/mo vs $1,900/mo. Top income tax: 40% vs 43%.

ItalySwitzerland
Cost of living
Cost of living index100169
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)43%40%
VAT / sales tax22%8.1%
Corporate tax24%15%
Capital gains26%0%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$1,900/mo$6,000/mo
GDP per capita$43,309✓$114,769✓
Inflation (annual)1.5%✓0.2%✓
Life expectancy84 yr✓84 yr✓
Quality of life
LGBTQ+ acceptanceModerateHigh
Digital-nomad visaYesNo

✓ = official statistics (World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

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? Frequently asked questions

Is Italy cheaper than Switzerland?

Switzerland is about 69% more expensive than Italy overall — its cost-of-living index is 169 versus 100 for Italy.

How much do you need to earn in Switzerland to live like in Italy?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Italy is worth about $126,933 in Switzerland. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Italy or Switzerland?

Switzerland has the lower top income-tax rate — 40% versus 43% in Italy.