Living and working in Schaffhausen
- Population 2025
- 90,087 inhab.
- Capital
- Schaffhausen
- Official language
- German
- Region
- Eastern Switzerland
- Area
- 298 km²
- Estimated net salary (100k)
- 77,067 CHF
- Borders
- Germany
On a gross salary of CHF 100,000 a year, the tax burden in Schaffhausen is 12.32%: rank 8 of 26 (Swiss average: 13.82%).
See Schaffhausen on the interactive map →
Strengths
- Top 5 nationwide for Engineering and industry (2/26)
Context
- Fastest-growing canton in 2025.
- Within commuting distance of Zurich.
- Industry and engineering with large employers.
Key figures
| Indicator | Value | Rank | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | |||
| Tax burden at CHF 100,000 gross | 12.32% | 8/26 | 13.82% |
| Top marginal income tax rate | 27.24% | 7/26 | 33.04% |
| Corporate tax | 15.08% | 20/26 | 14.43% |
| Wealth tax | 3.8‰ | 13/26 | |
| Jobs | |||
| Median wage (region) | 6,623 CHF/month | 19/26 | 7,024 CHF/month |
| Registered unemployment | 3.3% | 18/26 | 3.0% |
| GDP per capita | 100,959 CHF | 7/26 | |
| Cost of living | |||
| Fixed monthly cost (rent + insurance) | 1,755 CHF/month | 9/26 | 1,966 CHF/month |
| Average rent, 3-4 room flat | 1,280 CHF/month | 6/26 | 1,478 CHF/month |
| Average health premium 2027 | 401 CHF/month | 16/26 | 412 CHF/month |
| Vacant homes | 0.83% | 15/26 | 1.00% |
| Sectors | |||
| Pharma and life sciences | 5/10 | 10/26 | |
| Tech and software | 3/10 | 12/26 | |
| AI ecosystem | 2/10 | 15/26 | |
| Finance and insurance | 2/10 | 12/26 | |
| Engineering and industry | 7/10 | 2/26 | |
| Languages | |||
| Speak English | 5.7% | 6.7% | |
| Speak German | 86.9% | 62.3% | |
| Speak French | 1.6% | 22.6% | |
| Speak Italian | 4.0% | 8.3% | |
| Train | |||
| Train to Zurich | 37 min | 5/26 | |
| Train to Basel | 1 h 15 min | 9/26 | |
| Train to Bern | 1 h 35 min | 16/26 | |
| Train to Geneva | 3 h 20 min | 18/26 | |
| Population | |||
| Population | 90,087 inhab. | ||
| Population density | 302 people/km² | ||
| Foreign nationals | 28.9% | 27.4% | |
| Population growth | +1.6% | ||
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
- Janssen-Cilag (J&J) Pharma and biotech · Schaffhausen
- Garmin Tech and AI · Schaffhausen · Headquarters
- Georg Fischer Engineering and industry · Schaffhausen · Headquarters
- SIG Engineering and industry · Neuhausen · Headquarters
Main cities
- Schaffhausen 37,713 inhab.
- Neuhausen 10,893 inhab.
Other cantons
Sources
- BFS/OFS · STATPOP 2025
- KPMG · Clarity on Swiss Taxes 2026
- ESTV/AFC · Steuerbelastung Kantonshauptorte
- ESTV/Taxbooks · Vermögenssteuer 2025
- BFS/OFS · LSE 2024
- SECO · Arbeitsmarktstatistik 03/2026
- BFS/OFS · VGR 2022
- BFS/OFS · Strukturerhebung 2022
- BAG/OFSP · Prämien 2026/2027
- BFS/OFS · Leerwohnungszählung 2025
- BFS/OFS · Strukturerhebung 2020
- BFS/OFS · STATPOP 2024 (Statista)
- SBB CFF FFS · ≈