HowToSwiss

Moving to Vaud

Lausanne • French • Updated August 2026

This Vaud 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.

Vaud is the largest French-speaking canton by population, with Lausanne as its capital and the Lake Geneva arc as its economic spine. The canton hosts EPFL (one of Europe's top engineering schools), Nestlé's global headquarters in Vevey, the IOC in Lausanne, and a dense biotech/medtech cluster (Logitech, Sonova, Debiopharm). Tax pressure is among the higher in Switzerland — meaningfully above neighbouring Fribourg or Valais — but lifestyle and Lac Léman views compensate for many residents.

Living in Lausanne — full expat guide

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

Income tax (~CHF 100k)
25.5%
Wealth tax (per CHF 1k)
3.4 ‰
Rent 1BR / 3BR
CHF 1’900 / CHF 3’400
Health insurance avg
CHF 420/mo

Vaud · free tool

Calculate your income tax in Vaud

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

Taxes in Vaud

At an indicative gross salary of CHF 100,000 (single, no kids), the combined federal, cantonal and municipal income tax in Vaud works out to roughly 25.5%. Above CHF 120k gross, you must file a regular tax return even if you're under withholding (Quellensteuer) — don't miss the deadline. 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 Vaud Compare with another canton

Top communes to consider

  • PullyLake views, lower coefficient than Lausanne
  • MorgesBetween Lausanne & Geneva, good value
  • NyonGeneva commuter belt, lakeside

Housing & rent

Lausanne's rental market is tight but not Zurich-tight — vacancy has been among the tightest in Switzerland. A 1-bedroom in Lausanne is broadly in line with the cantonal averages shown above, with 3-bedroom flats scaling proportionally. Morges, Nyon and the Côte are popular Geneva-commuter belts. Build your dossier in French — extrait des poursuites, fiches de salaire, attestation de l'employeur.

Health insurance

Adult standard premiums in Vaud on the standard franchise are above the national average. Vaud runs one of the most generous health-premium-subsidy schemes in Switzerland (subsides via the OVAM); check eligibility on vd.ch before paying the full premium.

Local insight: Vaud

Vaud's economy has three clear poles: EPFL/UNIL and the Innovation Park spinout belt in Lausanne-Ouest, Nestlé and the food-tech cluster around Vevey, and the biotech/medtech ring through Renens and Ecublens. The wine industry (Lavaux UNESCO terraces) is a fourth, smaller pole. Lausanne itself is steep — the city climbs from the lake to over 600 m — and the m2 metro is your friend. Families gravitate toward Pully and Lutry on the lake or Echallens and Yverdon inland; people working in Geneva often live in Morges or Nyon and ride the IR. Cultural tip: the canton is meaningfully more reserved than Geneva — neighbour relationships take longer to build and apéro invitations are earned.

Best for

EPFL/researchLake lifeFrench speakers

Watch out for

Tax forms are mandatory even for foreigners under withholding above CHF 120k. Bureaucracy is slower than Zurich.

First-90-days checklist

  1. Build a dossier in French: extrait des poursuites, 3 fiches de salaire, attestation employeur, copie du permis, courte lettre de motivation
  2. Register at the Contrôle des habitants of your commune within 14 days (Lausanne, Pully, Morges, Nyon etc. all have their own counter)
  3. Apply for your permit at the Service de la population (SPOP)
  4. Pick a KVG/LAMal insurer within 3 months and check OVAM subsidy eligibility — Vaud subsidies are generous
  5. Open a Swiss bank account — Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV) is the local default
  6. Get a Mobilis abonnement (Lausanne agglomeration) or a Léman Pass if you commute to Geneva
  7. Above CHF 120k gross, file a regular declaration with VaudTax
  8. If you have kids, contact the Etablissement scolaire of your commune — primary school placement is sectorised

Compare Vaud with neighbours

Vaud vs GenevaVaud vs FribourgVaud vs Valais

Frequently asked questions

Should I live in canton Vaud or canton Geneva?
Vaud is meaningfully cheaper than Geneva for rent and for tax in the lower-income brackets, but more expensive than neighbouring Fribourg or Valais. Many Geneva-based workers live in Nyon or Morges for that reason — Léman Express and the IR bring you in under 35 minutes.
Is Lausanne expensive?
Yes, but less than Zurich or Geneva. A single adult typically needs CHF 5,500–7,000 net per month for a comfortable lifestyle in Lausanne — rent is the dominant line item.
Do I need French to live in Vaud?
EPFL, Nestlé HQ, the IOC and the international biotech firms operate in English. Everything else — landlords, the SPOP, schools, doctors, the commune's Contrôle des habitants — does not. Plan B1 within two years if you want to stay long term.
How does the Vaud Quellensteuer work for foreigners?
B-permit foreigners are typically taxed at source on their salary. Above CHF 120,000 gross (or with significant non-salary income), Vaud requires a regular declaration (TOU) — many newcomers miss this and lose deductions they were entitled to.
Is Vaud good for families?
Yes — public schools are well-funded, the lake and Jura are weekend playgrounds, and crèche supply, while still constrained, is better than Geneva. The downside is cost: childcare in Vaud is income-tested and full-time can run CHF 2,000–3,000/month per child for higher earners.

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