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EXPENSIVE

Why Switzerland is the most expensive country in Europe for international schools

Second in the world after China, Switzerland is also home to the most expensive city on the continent for international schooling.

Published: 27 November 2019 12:55 CET
Why Switzerland is the most expensive country in Europe for international schools
Photo: Depositphotos

Whether it be rising health insurance premiums or renting in Switzerland, cost of living is a major topic on The Local Switzerland. 

As we discussed recently after a survey of our readers, raising children in Switzerland can be prohibitively expensive – with costs for education and childcare a major factor. 

While Switzerland does offer free education in public schools, international schools can cost parents thousands of francs per month. 

Read more: Everything you need to know about the cost of living in Switzerland

While it won’t be news to parents living in Switzerland who send their children to international schools, doing so is expensive – so expensive in fact that not only is Switzerland the most expensive country in Europe for international schools, but it is also home to the most expensive city for international schooling – Zurich. 

The report, compiled by International Schools Database (ISD), compared the costs of international schools (in USD) in cities and countries across the globe. 

Switzerland ranks first in Europe, second in the world to China 

If you’ve just opened your international school bill for this month/year, you aren’t imagining it – fees in Switzerland are high. 

In fact, after China, Switzerland is the most expensive country in the world for international schooling. 

Countries with cities with a large international contingent rank among the highest in Europe. After Switzerland, the top five includes Austria, Belgium, Italy and Germany. 

A trifecta for Switzerland

Switzerland faced no real rivals in Europe for top spot, particularly considering that the three most expensive cities for International schools on the continent were all based in Switzerland. 

Zurich took top spot with a median price of CHF25,570, while Lausanne was in second (CHF24,250) and Geneva was in third (CHF23,366). 

The average cost for international schools in European cities. Image: ISD

The first non-Swiss city came in at number four, Vienna, with Brussels rounding out the top five. 

On a worldwide scale, both Beijing and Shanghai are more expensive than Zurich, while Shenzhen comes in fourth place. 

Why Switzerland? 

Andrea Robledillo from ISD told The Local that the cost of living in Switzerland was not the only factor in the high prices for international schools, but the prestige of some of the institutions. 

“I believe that the high prices of international schools in Zurich and Switzerland have to do with the cost of living, sure, but also with the kind of international schools available in Switzerland,” Robledillo told The Local. 

“International schools in Switzerland tend to be more high-end and with higher standards (not only academically, but of facilities and infrastructure), probably catering to the high-purchasing power population in Switzerland (both local and expat). 

“For example, some of the most expensive schools in the world are in Switzerland.”

Minimum, maximum and average prices of international schools in European cities. Image: ISD

According to the authors, another factor was Switzerland’s high proportion of boarding schools. 

“Also, having a number of boarding schools, which other cities tend not to have and which are more expensive than standard schools, will also push the average price of international schools in Switzerland up,” Robledillo told The Local.

There was little change in the 2019 rankings when compared with those from previous years, with Switzerland and China ranking alongside each other in 2017 and 2018. 

 

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MONEY

Can I get financial help in Switzerland if I’m struggling to pay the bills?

Can foreign residents who are struggling to get by receive the same financial help from the state as the Swiss do, and under what circumstances?

Published: 26 February 2024 13:48 CET
Can I get financial help in Switzerland if I'm struggling to pay the bills?

Say you are a foreign resident in Switzerland and find yourself short of funds, and are unable to pay your monthly bills.

Can you count on your canton’s public coffers to help you out?

Much depends on your status in the country.

If you have a residency permit, have been working in Switzerland and contributing to the social security scheme, then you can receive financial assistance, in form of subsidies, from your local authority.

This is how it works

For instance, if the obligatory health insurance premiums exceed 8 percent of the household income, then you are eligible to receive this help.

However, your canton of residence will look not only at your earnings, but at any other financial assets you hold as well.

So if your income is low but you have plenty of money in the bank in the form of savings or other investments, you will not qualify.

Generally speaking, any resident who is a low earner or has a large number of children — regardless of nationality — could be eligible for subsidised premiums, though criteria, as well as amounts, vary from one canton to another.

READ ALSO : How do I apply for healthcare benefits in Switzerland? 

What about housing?

Low-earners (again, regardless of nationality) are entitled to have their rents subsidised, under certain circumstances — the conditions as well as the income threshold is determined by cantonal authorities.

Generally speaking, in order to claim this help, you must prove that you live in the cheapest available housing in your area. (Needless to say, if you reside in a luxury apartment, you can’t ask for rent subsidy.)

If you don’t fulfill this particular condition, you will be told to move to cheaper accommodations before claiming any benefits.

Exceptions to this rule include situations such as a large number of minor children living in the household, which may make relocation — that is, finding a sizeable apartment at a cheaper price — unrealistic.

The amount of rent reduction will be set by the authorities.

Is any other help available?

If you can’t afford anything in Switzerland which, admittedly, is an extreme and rare situation for anyone working full-time and already receiving either health insurance or housing subsidy (or both), then your only other option is applying for welfare.

This, however, should be the absolute last resort if you want to remain in Switzerland and eventually apply for naturalisation, or even have your work permit renewed.

That’s because being on public assistance is grounds for refusal of citizenship — unless all the money is repaid in full in advance of your application.

READ ALSO: Can I still get Swiss citizenship after claiming social benefits? 

What about disabilities?

This falls under the general social security scheme, so if you are working in Switzerland, then you are eligible to receive these benefits.

The only exception may be people from outside the EU /EFTA — unless your country of origin has concluded a social security agreement with Switzerland.

This link provides additional information about these countries.

If you qualify for disability (and medical records confirm this), you can apply for these benefits at the social security office of your canton.

There are some other things you should keep in mind as well:

Not all foreigners who have a residency permit can apply for financial assistance.

If you came to Switzerland on a temporary permit (L or B), then you don’t have access to any benefits.

And if you ‘bought’ your Swiss residency, you can’t resort to any public help either.

The condition of your stay in Switzerland is that you should be self-sufficient enough to live here without having to work or resort to welfare benefits.

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