HowToSwiss

Moving to Thurgau

Frauenfeld • German • Updated August 2026

This Thurgau 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.

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.

Income tax (~CHF 100k)
21.0%
Wealth tax (per CHF 1k)
1.8 ‰
Rent 1BR / 3BR
CHF 1’200 / CHF 2’000
Health insurance avg
CHF 300/mo

Thurgau · free tool

Calculate your income tax in Thurgau

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Taxes 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.

Calculate your tax in Thurgau Compare with another canton

Top communes to consider

  • KreuzlingenBodensee, German border
  • FrauenfeldCapital, full services
  • ArbonLakeside, affordable

Housing & rent

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.

Health insurance

Adult standard premiums in canton Thurgau on the standard franchise are among the lower in Switzerland. The canton runs as one premium region.

Local insight: Thurgau

Thurgau's value proposition is space and affordability. The canton has more square metres of liveable housing per resident than ZH or ZG, and rents reflect that — you get a family-sized flat or even a small house for what a 2-bedroom costs in Zurich. The Bodensee shoreline (Kreuzlingen, Romanshorn, Arbon) is a real lifestyle asset, with year-round lake access and ferry connections to Friedrichshafen and Lindau in Germany. Economically the canton splits in three: Kreuzlingen and the Konstanz cross-border belt; the western Frauenfeld–Münchwilen ZH commuter strip (Frauenfeld is 35 minutes to Zurich HB on the IC); and the rural agricultural Mittelthurgau, where the canton's apple, hop and dairy industries still dominate. The trade-off is straightforward: thinner job market, longer commutes if you don't work locally, and a quieter cultural scene than the city-cantons.

Best for

FamiliesRural tranquilityBodensee

Watch out for

Limited job market — most residents commute to Zurich, Winterthur or St. Gallen.

First-90-days checklist

  1. Build a rental dossier — Thurgau is the easiest German-speaking market in this batch but landlords still expect Betreibungsauszug, three payslips and references
  2. Register at the Einwohnerkontrolle of your TG commune within 14 days (Frauenfeld, Kreuzlingen, Arbon, Weinfelden etc.)
  3. Apply for your permit at the Migrationsamt Kanton Thurgau
  4. Pick a KVG insurer within 3 months — TG is in the lower half on premiums
  5. Open a Swiss bank account — Thurgauer Kantonalbank (TKB) is the local default
  6. Get an Ostwind abo (eastern Switzerland network) or a GA if you commute to Zurich
  7. Above CHF 120k gross, file a regular TG 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 Thurgau with neighbours

Thurgau vs St. GallenThurgau vs SchaffhausenThurgau vs Zurich

Frequently asked questions

Can I commute to Zurich from Thurgau?
Yes — Frauenfeld is 35 minutes to Zurich HB on the IC and even Weinfelden is under an hour. Most Zurich commuters from Thurgau live in the western strip (Frauenfeld, Aadorf, Münchwilen) or along the IC corridor.
What's life like on the Bodensee shore?
Genuinely good — Kreuzlingen, Romanshorn and Arbon all have direct lake access, beach areas (Strandbad) and ferry connections into Germany. Cross-border shopping in Konstanz is a routine part of life for Kreuzlingen residents, and Bodensee summers run from May to October.
Is Thurgau really that much cheaper than canton Zurich?
For rent, yes — typically meaningfully cheaper for an equivalent flat in the eastern half of the canton. For tax, somewhat cheaper than the city of Zurich but not as dramatic as the rent differential.
Do I need German to live in Thurgau?
Yes. The canton is overwhelmingly German-speaking with a distinct Thurgauer dialect. Kreuzlingen has slightly more cross-border German nationals, but the Einwohnerkontrolle, schools, doctors and landlords all assume German. Plan A2 within your first year.
Is Thurgau really 'Mostindien'?
The nickname refers to the canton's traditional apple-cider (Most) production, which still defines large parts of rural Thurgau. The Mostindien identity is now mostly cultural and tourist-marketing rather than economic, but the cider, apple-juice and orchard landscape is real — and the canton's spring apple-blossom season is a genuine visitor draw.

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