HowToSwiss

Moving to Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Herisau • German • Updated August 2026

This Appenzell Ausserrhoden guide helps newcomers understand the key first steps for settling in the canton, including Gemeinde registration (Anmeldung), permits, health insurance, taxes, housing, and official local resources.

Appenzell Ausserrhoden is the Protestant half of historic Appenzell, separated from Appenzell Innerrhoden in 1597 along confessional lines. It is a small German-speaking canton (~56,000 residents) that wraps around the hills above the city of St. Gallen. Herisau is the de-facto capital and economic centre; the canton's other large communes (Teufen, Speicher, Trogen) are functionally St. Gallen commuter villages with strong views over the Alpstein. Ausserrhoden abolished its Landsgemeinde in 1997 and now votes by ballot like most cantons — a key administrative difference from Innerrhoden across the border.

Income tax (~CHF 100k)
20.5%
Wealth tax (per CHF 1k)
2.0 ‰
Rent 1BR / 3BR
CHF 1’100 / CHF 1’800
Health insurance avg
CHF 290/mo

Appenzell Ausserrhoden · free tool

Calculate your income tax in Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Tax calculator — pre-filled for Appenzell Ausserrhoden. No signup.

Taxes in Appenzell Ausserrhoden

At an indicative gross salary of CHF 100,000 (single, no kids), the combined federal, cantonal and municipal income tax in Appenzell Ausserrhoden works out to roughly 20.5%. Affordable alternative to St. Gallen with lower taxes and a strong rural character. 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.

Calculate your tax in Appenzell Ausserrhoden Compare with another canton

Top communes to consider

  • HerisauCapital, full services
  • TeufenSuburban St. Gallen
  • SpeicherHill village, views

Housing & rent

Ausserrhoden has one of the easier rental markets in eastern Switzerland. A 1-bedroom in Herisau or Teufen is broadly in line with the cantonal averages shown above, with 3-bedroom flats scaling proportionally. The Vorderland (Heiden, Walzenhausen) above Lake Constance is the more scenic and slightly more expensive sub-region.

Health insurance

Adult standard premiums in canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden on the standard franchise are below the Swiss average. The canton has one premium region.

Local insight: Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Ausserrhoden is in practice a residential and commuter canton above St. Gallen. Teufen, Speicher, Trogen and Bühler all sit on the hillside above the city, connected by the Appenzeller Bahnen narrow-gauge rail, which makes a 15–25 minute commute into St. Gallen straightforward — and gives a meaningful tax advantage over living in canton SG. Herisau, the capital, has its own economic base (Cantonal administration, Migros distribution centre, several SMEs) and is the only town in the canton with a full set of services. The canton is quietly Protestant in character (the historic split from Innerrhoden was confessional and the difference still shapes both cantons), and is one of the few places in Switzerland where the typical landscape is mid-altitude rolling hill rather than alpine valley or Mittelland plain.

Best for

Low cost of livingRural charmHiking

Watch out for

Very traditional culture. Limited international community and English-speaking services.

First-90-days checklist

  1. Build a rental dossier — Ausserrhoden is easier than ZH or SG but landlords still expect Betreibungsauszug, three payslips and references
  2. Register at the Einwohnerkontrolle of your AR commune within 14 days (Herisau, Teufen, Speicher, Trogen, Heiden etc.)
  3. Apply for your permit at the Migrationsamt Kanton Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Herisau
  4. Pick a KVG insurer within 3 months — AR is below the national average
  5. Open a Swiss bank account — Appenzeller Kantonalbank serves AI, while AR is served by Raiffeisen and other commercial banks (AR no longer has its own cantonal bank since the 1996 collapse)
  6. Get an Ostwind regional abo (covers AR, AI, SG, TG) or a GA if you commute beyond eastern Switzerland
  7. Above CHF 120k gross, file a regular AR tax return — the canton runs its own e-filing
  8. If you have school-age kids, the Volksschule of your commune handles placement under Lehrplan 21

Compare Appenzell Ausserrhoden with neighbours

Appenzell Ausserrhoden vs Appenzell InnerrhodenAppenzell Ausserrhoden vs St. GallenAppenzell Ausserrhoden vs Thurgau

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Innerrhoden?
They are two separate half-cantons that split in 1597 along confessional lines: Ausserrhoden is historically Reformed/Protestant, Innerrhoden Catholic. Today the practical differences are administrative (Innerrhoden still has a Landsgemeinde, Ausserrhoden abolished its in 1997), economic (Ausserrhoden is larger, more populous, more commuter-oriented) and cultural (the Innerrhoden side is more traditional and more closely associated with the tourist image of Appenzell).
Can I commute to St. Gallen from Ausserrhoden?
Yes, and it's the standard pattern for many AR residents. Teufen is 12 minutes by Appenzeller Bahnen into St. Gallen HB; Speicher and Trogen are 20–25 minutes. The hillside communes above St. Gallen function essentially as suburbs with a cantonal-tax advantage.
Do I need German to live in Ausserrhoden?
Yes — the canton is German-speaking with a distinct Appenzeller dialect that's instantly recognisable across Switzerland. English use is limited outside of larger SG-based employers. Plan A2 within your first year.
Did Ausserrhoden really abolish its Landsgemeinde?
Yes — the open-air vote was discontinued in 1997 in favour of standard ballot voting. The Landsgemeinde tradition now survives in only two Swiss cantons: Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus.
What happened to the Appenzeller Kantonalbank?
The canton's original Ausserrhoden Kantonalbank collapsed in 1996, which is why AR does not have its own cantonal bank today — a notable exception in Switzerland. Innerrhoden's Appenzeller Kantonalbank still exists and serves AI residents.

Data is illustrative for 2026 and based on commonly published cantonal figures. Always verify with the official cantonal tax administration before making financial decisions.