HowToSwiss

Moving to Bern

Bern • German / French • Updated August 2026

This Bern 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.

Bern is Switzerland's de facto capital, home to the Federal Assembly, Federal Council and most federal ministries. It's also Switzerland's second-largest canton by population and uniquely bilingual at the cantonal level (German and French, with the Jura bernois as the French-speaking strip). The economy is dominated by federal administration, the Swiss Post and SBB headquarters, and a medtech cluster around Bern (Ypsomed, CSL Behring). Tax burden is moderately higher than ZH or AG, but rents and lifestyle costs are noticeably gentler.

Living in Bern — full expat guide

Cost of living, neighbourhoods, jobs and practical tips for Bern.

Income tax (~CHF 100k)
24.5%
Wealth tax (per CHF 1k)
3.0 ‰
Rent 1BR / 3BR
CHF 1’500 / CHF 2’600
Health insurance avg
CHF 340/mo

Bern · free tool

Calculate your income tax in Bern

Tax calculator — pre-filled for Bern. No signup.

Taxes in Bern

At an indicative gross salary of CHF 100,000 (single, no kids), the combined federal, cantonal and municipal income tax in Bern works out to roughly 24.5%. Higher tax burden than ZH/ZG. Federal employees often live in lower-tax communes around Bern (Muri, Köniz). 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 Bern Compare with another canton

Top communes to consider

  • Muri bei BernLowest taxes near the capital
  • KönizAffordable, well connected by tram
  • BolligenQuiet, leafy, family option

Housing & rent

Bern's rental market is meaningfully easier than Zurich or Geneva — vacancy has been comfortable by Swiss standards. A 1-bedroom in the city of Bern is broadly in line with the cantonal averages shown above, with 3-bedroom flats scaling proportionally. Köniz, Muri bei Bern and Bolligen are the popular family belts.

Health insurance

Adult standard premiums in canton Bern on the standard franchise are below the national average. Premium regions split the canton into urban Bern and the more rural Oberland / Emmental, with the latter typically cheaper.

Local insight: Bern

Bern's labour market is unusual in Switzerland in that the largest employers are the federal government, Swiss Post, SBB, the cantonal administration and the Inselspital (university hospital). If you don't work in administration, healthcare or one of the medtech firms (Ypsomed in Burgdorf, CSL Behring in Bern itself), the canton has a thinner pull than ZH. Lifestyle is famously slower than Zurich — shops close earlier, restaurants close earlier, and the Aare river loop is a serious summer institution. Bilingual administration means most official forms come in German and French, which is a quiet advantage for francophones who want federal jobs without moving to Romandie.

Best for

Federal jobsFamiliesQuieter pace

Watch out for

Higher tax burden than Zurich for similar income. Job market outside admin/federal is thinner.

First-90-days checklist

  1. Build a dossier — Bern is gentler than ZH but landlords still want Betreibungsauszug, three payslips and references
  2. Register at the Einwohnerdienste of your commune within 14 days (Bern itself uses bern.ch online appointments)
  3. Apply for your permit at the Migrationsdienst Kanton Bern
  4. Pick a KVG insurer within 3 months — Bern premiums are below national average
  5. Open a Swiss bank account — Bern Cantonal Bank (BEKB / BCBE — bilingual) is the local default
  6. Get a Libero Abo (Bern agglomeration) or a GA if you commute beyond it
  7. Above CHF 120k gross, file a regular tax return using TaxMe-Online
  8. If you took a federal job, Personalamt of your office handles BVG (Publica) enrollment — no separate action needed

Compare Bern with neighbours

Bern vs FribourgBern vs SolothurnBern vs Valais

Frequently asked questions

Why is canton Bern's tax higher than canton Zurich?
Bern has a smaller corporate tax base relative to its population and a high share of public-sector employment, which has historically kept the cantonal Steueranlage above the Swiss median. Within the canton, Muri bei Bern and Bolligen are notably cheaper than the city itself.
Is Bern bilingual in practice or only on paper?
Genuinely bilingual at the cantonal administration — forms, websites and the cantonal parliament operate in both German and French. The city of Bern is overwhelmingly German-speaking; the Jura bernois (Moutier, Saint-Imier) is French-speaking. The Biel/Bienne agglomeration is the rare canton-Bern location where you'll hear both daily.
Do I need German or French to work for the federal government?
For most federal positions, you need at least passive competence in a second national language — usually German and French. English is widely used internally but rarely sufficient on its own for a federal career.
Is Bern a good city for families?
Yes — schools are well-funded, crèche supply is better than ZH/GE relative to demand, the Aare and the Bantiger / Gurten are weekend playgrounds, and the agglomeration is small enough that a 20-minute tram is a long commute. The trade-off is a quieter cultural and nightlife scene than Zurich.
When is the Zibelemärit and do I need to care?
Bern's Onion Market is held the fourth Monday of November and the city fills with a quarter-million visitors. It's the canton's most famous annual event — worth planning around if you're in central Bern that morning.

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