Essentially with high living standards (read… high-pay jobs) comes high living costs. Zurich is the largest and most populated city in Switzerland. It has a great transport system, many cultural venues and locations and very varied inhabitants.

Zurich consistently ranks as one of the world's most expensive cities due to a combination of high wages, a strong Swiss Franc, and high operating costs. Switzerland maintains some of the highest average salaries globally, which necessitates higher prices for services, from haircuts to restaurant meals, as business owners must pay their staff a "living wage" that matches the local standard. Additionally, the Swiss Franc (CHF) is a "safe-haven" currency that remains very strong against the Euro and Dollar, making the city particularly pricey for international visitors. Switzerland also has high standards for quality and food safety, often favoring locally produced goods which are more expensive than mass-produced imports. The city's geography, surrounded by mountains and a lake, limits the supply of real estate, keeping rents and hotel prices at a premium. Finally, the "Swiss quality" factor means that infrastructure and services are exceptionally well-maintained, but the tax and fee structures required to support this level of excellence are reflected in the high "cost of entry" for residents and tourists alike.