Head-to-head · tax residents 2026
Switzerland or Germany: which should you move to?
Two of Europe's top relocation targets, both with newcomer regimes. Here is how they compare on the taxes that move the needle.
Tell us your country, income and net worth. The verdict above and the cost, flight time and "who wins" all update for you.
We'll send a personalised Switzerland or Germany report for your exact situation, plus a free intro to a vetted advisor in whichever fits you best. No spam.
| Factor |  Switzerland ↗ |  Germany ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| Top personal income tax | 45% | 45% |
| Corporate tax | 14.6%* | 15%* |
| Capital gains tax | None | Taxed |
| Dividend tax | 11.5% | 26.4% |
| VAT / sales tax | 8.1% | 19% |
| Wealth tax | Yes | No |
| Inheritance tax | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign income | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| Headline expat regime | Lump-sum (forfait) | None |
| Cost of living (vs your country) | 112 | 80 |
| Population | 9,092,436 | 83,491,249 |
| Area | 41,290 km² | 357,021 km² |
| Population density | 220/km² | 234/km² |
| Airports (large + medium) | 13 | 75 |
| Annual tourists | 9,159,500 | 37,420,000 |
| Flight time from your country | · | · |
| Direct flight likely? | · | · |
| Life expectancy | 84.1 yrs | 81.5 yrs |
| Safety (homicides/100k) | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| Happiness (0-10) | 7.56 | 7.08 |
| Corruption index (higher = cleaner) | 85/100 | 80/100 |
| Double-tax treaties (approx) | ~100 | ~96 |
| Internet speed (median fixed) | 293 Mbps | 104 Mbps |
| Healthcare spend / person | $11,784 | $6,849 |
| Air quality (PM2.5, lower=better) | 8.32 | 8.81 |
| Time zone (approx) | UTC+1 | UTC+1 |
| Digital nomad visa | · | No |
| Official languages | 4 (French, German, Italian, Romansh) | 1 (German) |
Green = more favourable. Cost of living shown as a percentage of your home country (under 100% = cheaper than home). Tax data: compiled by us, being re-verified; cost of living: World Bank PPP; area & population: GeoNames; life expectancy & homicide rate: World Bank.
* Switzerland: Federal 8.5% on after-tax profit (effective ~7.83%) plus cantonal/communal; combined effective ~11.9% (Zug) to ~21% (Bern), average ~14.6% · Germany: 15% federal corporate income tax + 5.5% solidarity surcharge on it (=15.825%) + municipal trade tax ~7-21% → combined effective ~30-33%.
Frequent Switzerland and Germany comparisons
People comparing Switzerland and Germany also look at these.
Not sure which fits your numbers?
Your income mix decides this, not the headline rate. Get a projection for your situation and a vetted advisor in both countries.
Get my personalised comparison →