Living and working in St. Gallen

Population 2025: 544,040 inhab.
Capital: St. Gallen
Official language: German
Region: Eastern Switzerland
Area: 2,028 km²
Estimated net salary (100k): 74,137 CHF
Borders: Austria, Liechtenstein

On a gross salary of CHF 100,000 a year, the tax burden in St. Gallen is 15.25%: rank 18 of 26 (Swiss average: 13.82%).

Strengths

Top 5 nationwide for Engineering and industry (2/26)
Top 5 nationwide for Finance and insurance (5/26)

Context

Top-tier universities and research institutes.
Industry and engineering with large employers.

Key figures

Indicator	Value	Rank	Switzerland
Taxes
Tax burden at CHF 100,000 gross	15.25%	18/26	13.82%
Top marginal income tax rate	32.15%	13/26	33.04%
Corporate tax	14.29%	13/26	14.43%
Wealth tax	4.1‰	14/26
Jobs
Median wage (region)	6,623 CHF/month	19/26	7,024 CHF/month
Registered unemployment	2.2%	9/26	3.0%
GDP per capita	85,320 CHF	8/26
Cost of living
Fixed monthly cost (rent + insurance)	1,762 CHF/month	10/26	1,966 CHF/month
Average rent, 3-4 room flat	1,338 CHF/month	11/26	1,478 CHF/month
Average health premium 2027	358 CHF/month	9/26	412 CHF/month
Vacant homes	1.37%	6/26	1.00%
Sectors
Pharma and life sciences	3/10	17/26
Tech and software	4/10	7/26
AI ecosystem	3/10	10/26
Finance and insurance	5/10	5/26
Engineering and industry	7/10	2/26
Languages
Speak English	4.2%		6.7%
Speak German	87.4%		62.3%
Speak French	1.1%		22.6%
Speak Italian	3.6%		8.3%
Train
Train to Zurich	1 h 05 min	13/26
Train to Basel	1 h 55 min	18/26
Train to Bern	2 h 00 min	21/26
Train to Geneva	3 h 45 min	21/26
Population
Population	544,040 inhab.
Population density	268 people/km²
Foreign nationals	27.0%		27.4%
Population growth	+0.7%

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 Vifor Pharma and biotech · St. Gallen
Bühler Engineering and industry · Uzwil · Headquarters
Geberit Engineering and industry · Rapperswil-Jona · Headquarters
Raiffeisen Finance and insurance · St. Gallen · Headquarters

Universities and institutes

HSG St. Gallen University · St. Gallen

Main cities

St. Gallen 76,931 inhab.
Rapperswil-Jona 28,252 inhab.
Wil 24,541 inhab.
Gossau 18,226 inhab.