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COST OF LIVING

How much more expensive will life be in your Swiss region in 2024?

New year, new price hikes. What kind of increases can you expect in your part of Switzerland — and why?

How much more expensive will life be in your Swiss region in 2024?
Life will become more expensive in Switzerland in 2024. Photo: Pixabay

While some consumer goods and services will actually become slightly cheaper in 2024 (read more about this below), the cost of most will, unfortunately, go up.

The primary reasons for this hike are increased prices of health insurance premiums, electricity, and rents.

But the hikes will not be uniform across Switzerland. They will vary by canton and community, because the costs of all three services mentioned above are different depending on your place of residence.

Watson news platform has calculated the increases you can expect in your region based on official data.

This is how much you will pay each month in your canton or commune

Zurich

On average, you will pay 8.15 francs more for electricity, 191.40 more for rent, and 29.1 for health insurance.

That means your monthly bill for just these services will be 227.66 francs more in 2024.

These are averages in the city of Zurich. If you live in nearby communities, your increases will slightly lower.

Geneva

Your average electricity bill will go up by 15.13 francs, rent by 87.27, and health insurance premium by 46.1.

Total monthly increase: 148.51 francs.

Basel-City

Electricity will increase by 8.04 francs a month, rent by 78.38, and healthcare premiums by  30.1, for the grand total of 116.52 a month.
 
Vaud

This canton is divided into numerous tariff areas, so let’s look at its capital Lausanne, where most foreign residents live.

Electricity rate will increase by 15.19 francs, rents by 39.2, and health insurance by 39.4.

The total monthly increase will add up to 93.79 francs.
 
Other price hikes
 
The above increases were calculated only for the electricity, rents, and health insurance rates.

But expect to pay more for public transportation as well.

From December 10th, when the new train timetable kicks off in Switzerland, the new (higher) tariffs will go into effect as well.

For the first time in seven years, the price of GA Travelcards —  annual subscriptions that give commuters access to Swiss public railways, post buses, public boat services, as well as the urban local transport in buses and trams — will increase by about 4.3 percent.

READ ALSO: How the Swiss Travelcard will get more expensive 

Is there good news, in terms of prices, as well?

There is.

Swiss consumers will pay less for heating oil, fruits, and vegetables; other products could become cheaper as well.

If you like travelling, you will be glad to know that hotel prices, as well as those of international package holidays will also be less expensive.   

Last but not least, a new law that comes in to force on January 1st, 2024, will lower the price of some imported merchandise sold in Switzerland.

From that date, import duties on almost all industrial products will be abolished, which means that goods such as bicycles, cars, household appliances, clothing, and footwear will no longer be subject to customs duties when imported into Switzerland.

Consequently, their prices will drop.

READ ALSO : What will be cheaper and more expensive in Switzerland in 2024?

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ZURICH

Why does Zurich need airbags on the front of its trams?

Due to a recent spate of fatal accidents, authorities in Switzerland’s largest city are looking for ways to make tramway tracks more secure for pedestrians.

Why does Zurich need airbags on the front of its trams?

Three fatal tram accidents occurred in Zurich in the span of five days in early March.

In one, a pedestrian fell between the tram and the platform at the Oerlikon Ost stop; the victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died the next morning.

Next, a cyclist collided with a tram in District 5, succumbing to his injuries the next day.

The same day, another pedestrian fell under a tram at Zurich’s main train station, dying at the scene of the accident.

Though all three events happened in quick succession, accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists colliding with public transport in Zurich are not a new phenomenon.

“In recent years, accidents involving personal injuries have increased steadily,” said city official Michele Romagnolo. “People are crushed by trams and die. We can’t stand idly by.”

What is being done to prevent this type of deaths in the future?

The Zurich Transport Authority (VBZ) and tram manufacturer Alstom are currently testing airbags that inflate when a tram hits a pedestrian.

This mechanism would be triggered by a sensor on the front of the driver’s cab, and is intended to reduce the impact and consequences of a collision between the trams and pedestrians or cyclists.

According to Heinz Schulthess, president of the tram drivers’ association, “in head-on accidents, people first hit their heads on the window and then fall to the ground. An airbag pushes a person away, largely preventing the impact and minimising the risk of death.”

During this test phase, engineers are also looking into ways to increase the speed of airbag deployment and develop a mechanism for quick folding, so that the tram can resume operation immediately after an incident.

When would this system be deployed?

The trial run is expected to be completed in summer of 2024.

“What happens next depends on the results,” the VBZ spokesperson Leo Herrmann said.

Are any other safety measures under consideration as well?

According to Schulthess, another way to increase tram safety would be to install red LED lights along the tracks on the ground.

They would serve to would warn people crossing the tram tracks while staring at their smartphones.

“The main cause of accidents are pedestrians crossing the street without paying attention,” he said.

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