Living and working in Bern

Population 2025: 1,076,127 inhab.
Capital: Bern
Official language: German and French
Region: Espace Mittelland
Area: 5,960 km²
Estimated net salary (100k): 72,747 CHF
Borders: No international border

On a gross salary of CHF 100,000 a year, the tax burden in Bern is 16.64%: rank 22 of 26 (Swiss average: 13.82%).

See Bern on the interactive map →

Strengths

Top 5 nationwide for Pharma and life sciences (5/26)
Top 5 nationwide for Tech and software (5/26)

Watch out

Among the 5 least favourable for Top marginal income tax rate (23/26)
Among the 5 least favourable for Tax burden at CHF 100,000 gross (22/26)

Context

Federal capital: administration, Swisscom, Swiss Post and SBB.
Bilingual German and French canton.
Watchmaking and precision micro-engineering.
Top-tier universities and research institutes.

Key figures

Indicator	Value	Rank	Switzerland
Taxes
Tax burden at CHF 100,000 gross	16.64%	22/26	13.82%
Top marginal income tax rate	40.85%	23/26	33.04%
Corporate tax	20.54%	26/26	14.43%
Wealth tax	5.7‰	19/26
Jobs
Median wage (region)	6,964 CHF/month	14/26	7,024 CHF/month
Registered unemployment	2.3%	11/26	3.0%
GDP per capita	85,151 CHF	9/26
Cost of living
Fixed monthly cost (rent + insurance)	1,814 CHF/month	14/26	1,966 CHF/month
Average rent, 3-4 room flat	1,317 CHF/month	10/26	1,478 CHF/month
Average health premium 2027	420 CHF/month	19/26	412 CHF/month
Vacant homes	1.12%	9/26	1.00%
Sectors
Pharma and life sciences	6/10	5/26
Tech and software	5/10	5/26
AI ecosystem	4/10	7/26
Finance and insurance	4/10	8/26
Engineering and industry	6/10	9/26
Languages
Speak English	4.5%		6.7%
Speak German	83.1%		62.3%
Speak French	10.7%		22.6%
Speak Italian	3.2%		8.3%
Train
Train to Zurich	56 min	11/26
Train to Basel	55 min	6/26
Train to Bern	here	1/26
Train to Geneva	1 h 40 min	6/26
Population
Population	1,076,127 inhab.
Population density	181 people/km²
Foreign nationals	18.4%		27.4%
Population growth	+0.5%

Rank 1 of 26 = the most favourable situation for people living or working there. Our own estimate based on the major employers and institutes present. There is no comparable official share per canton.

Taxes

Rates for the cantonal capital, including federal, cantonal and municipal tax. Another municipality can differ by several points.
With an L or B permit, tax is withheld from your salary. Above CHF 120,000 a year you also file an ordinary return.
If you register as a member of a recognised church you also pay church tax.

The FSO publishes median wages by statistical region, not by canton. Sectors such as pharma or finance pay well above it. The average premium mixes all ages, deductibles and models; an adult pays more. Rents refer to existing leases: flats advertised today cost more.

Companies on the map

CSL Behring Pharma and biotech · Bern
Ypsomed Medtech and diagnostics · Burgdorf · Headquarters
Swisscom Tech and AI · Ittigen · Headquarters
Swatch Group Engineering and industry · Biel/Bienne · Headquarters
SNB · BNS Finance and insurance · Bern · Headquarters

Universities and institutes

Universität Bern University · Bern

Main cities

Bern 134,506 inhab.
Biel/Bienne 55,070 inhab.
Thun 43,670 inhab.
Köniz 42,409 inhab.
Burgdorf 16,586 inhab.