Thurgau relocation checklist
Frauenfeld • German • Updated August 2026
Thurgau is the German-speaking canton along the south shore of Lake Constance (Bodensee), with Frauenfeld as the political capital and Kreuzlingen — the canton's largest town, directly across the border from German Konstanz — as its de-facto economic centre. The canton is one of Switzerland's most agricultural by land use (apples and the 'Mostindien' cider tradition still define rural Thurgau), but it also hosts a meaningful light-industrial and pharma-supply base (Stadler Rail in Bussnang, Bischofszell Nahrungsmittel, Mowag in Kreuzlingen). Tax burden sits a touch below the national average; rental supply is among the most relaxed in the country.
Thurgau · free tool
See what you'd actually pay in tax in Thurgau
Tax calculator — pre-filled for Thurgau. No signup.
First 90 days in Thurgau
- Build a rental dossier — Thurgau is the easiest German-speaking market in this batch but landlords still expect Betreibungsauszug, three payslips and references
- Register at the Einwohnerkontrolle of your TG commune within 14 days (Frauenfeld, Kreuzlingen, Arbon, Weinfelden etc.)
- Apply for your permit at the Migrationsamt Kanton Thurgau
- Pick a KVG insurer within 3 months — TG is in the lower half on premiums
- Open a Swiss bank account — Thurgauer Kantonalbank (TKB) is the local default
- Get an Ostwind abo (eastern Switzerland network) or a GA if you commute to Zurich
- Above CHF 120k gross, file a regular TG tax return — the canton runs its own e-filing
- If you have school-age kids, the Volksschule of your commune handles placement under Lehrplan 21
Pick your stage in Thurgau
Deadlines that start counting the day you land.
The weeks before your move — paperwork and housing.
Permits, budget and canton choice before you commit.
Schools, family reunification and partner work rights.
Company setup, AHV registration and VAT thresholds.
Student permit, insurance exemptions and part-time work.
Taxes, housing and insurance in Thurgau
At an indicative gross salary of CHF 100,000 (single, no kids), the combined federal, cantonal and municipal income tax in Thurgau works out to roughly 21.0%. Low taxes and affordable rents make it popular for families commuting to Zurich or Winterthur. Cantonal child deductions and family allowances apply on top of the federal allowance — for an exact figure for your household, use the official cantonal calculator linked above. Your real tax bill depends on the commune (each sets its own Steuerfuss / coefficient), your civil status, Pillar 3a contributions and any BVG buy-ins.
Thurgau has one of the easiest rental markets in Switzerland. A 1-bedroom in Kreuzlingen or Frauenfeld is broadly in line with the cantonal averages shown above, with 3-bedroom flats scaling proportionally. Anywhere east of Weinfelden is markedly cheaper still; the western strip (Frauenfeld, Münchwilen) is the natural ZH commuter belt.
Adult standard premiums in canton Thurgau on the standard franchise are among the lower in Switzerland. The canton runs as one premium region.
Thurgau · free tool
Calculate your net salary after Thurgau cantonal tax
Salary calculator — pre-filled for Thurgau. No signup.
Keep reading
All 26 canton checklists
- Zurich Checklist
- Geneva Checklist
- Basel-Stadt Checklist
- Basel-Landschaft Checklist
- Bern Checklist
- Vaud Checklist
- Zug Checklist
- Lucerne Checklist
- Ticino Checklist
- Aargau Checklist
- St. Gallen Checklist
- Thurgau Checklist
- Schwyz Checklist
- Nidwalden Checklist
- Obwalden Checklist
- Uri Checklist
- Glarus Checklist
- Schaffhausen Checklist
- Appenzell Ausserrhoden Checklist
- Appenzell Innerrhoden Checklist
- Graubünden Checklist
- Fribourg Checklist
- Solothurn Checklist
- Neuchâtel Checklist
- Valais Checklist
- Jura Checklist
Thurgau is set as your canton, so checklists and tools across HowToSwiss now use its rates.