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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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For members

GENEVA

Can Geneva still claim to be the ‘capital of peace’?

The Swiss city has traditionally been a space for diplomacy and international relations. But does Geneva still merit this title?

Can Geneva still claim to be the 'capital of peace'?

Geneva has been the scene of numerous negotiations and agreements since the end of World War Two.

According to the United Nations, the city’s “humanitarian tradition, strategic location in a neutral country, and political stability make it an obvious choice to host a variety of diplomatic meetings”.

These are just some of the top-level meetings held in Geneva in the past decades, which have earned it the nickname of the “capital of peace”:

1985: After a long stretch of Cold War, former US President Ronald Reagan met and (shook hands) with USSR leader Mikhaïl Gorbachev 

1994: The then US president Bill Clinton met former president of Syria, Hafez al-Assad
 
2009: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held talks with Russian minister of foreign affairs, Sergei Lavrov
 
2013: Iranian nuclear negotiations
 
2021: Summit between US president Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putinshakes hands with US President Joe Biden prior to their meeting in Geneva. Photo: Denis Balibouse/AFP

You can see all the other major meetings in Geneva here

However, since Biden met Putin in May 2021, no major meetings have been held in Geneva – either regularly or consistently.

Why is that?

Russia’s interference
 
Blame it on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

After that event in February 2022, Switzerland’s image took a beating in Putin’s eyes.

That’s because the country froze the assets of Russian oligarchs held in Swiss banks, closed its airspace to Russian airlines, and generally followed all of EU sanctions against Kremlin.

Because of these actions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described Switzerland as an “openly hostile country”.

As for the Russia’ ambassador to Bern, Sergey Garmonin, he said that Switzerland “has lost its credibility as an impartial international platform and cannot be regarded a mediator in addressing the crisis in Ukraine”, according to Russia’ official news agency, TASS.

In fact, due to Switzerland’s stance on Russia, Putin “reciprocated” by pressuring his ally, Syria, to suspend its peace talks that have been held in Geneva since 2016.

Is Switzerland’s role as the hub of international diplomacy really doomed?

Not quite yet.

On June 15th and 16th, the country will host a high-level peace conference for Ukraine at the Burgenstock resort near Lucerne.

High-level officials from dozens of countries will attend, though Russia already said it would not participate in the summit.

READ ALSO: Switzerland to host Ukraine peace conference without Russian involvement 

What about Geneva – will it be able to maintain its diplomatic role?

Russia’s interference has undoubtedly inflicted some damage, as evidenced by its stance on Switzerland in general, and its pressure toward Syrian peace talks in particular.

However, given that Geneva has been “at it” for many decades, and successfully so, it is too early to count it out as the world’s “peace capital”.

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