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Living in Neuchâtel

Neuchâtel is a city in Switzerland, with a population of 45,309 at the end of 2024. The resident counts list 30,384 Swiss permanent residents and 483 non-permanent residents at the end of 2024.

Higher unemployment than 76% of Swiss cities that publish it and dirtier air than 64% of Swiss cities that publish it.

Which Switzerland-wide rules apply when you move to Neuchâtel?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in SwitzerlandNational rates and thresholds that apply in Neuchâtel.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

No city-level rent or cost figure is published for Neuchâtel yet. Switzerland has country-level context; it is not substituted for this city.

Work and income

What is the unemployment rate in Neuchâtel?

The unemployment rate is 3.5 % (2022). Source: Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS/FSO), source data SECO1

Unemployment across cities in SwitzerlandUnemployment in Neuchâtel is 3.5%. Of 175 cities with data, 52 have unemployment of 2 to under 3%.
unemployment rate, % · measured cities in Switzerland per band12 cities: 0% to under 1%120–151 cities: 1% to under 2%511–252 cities: 2% to under 3%522–338 cities: 3% to under 4%383–4Neuchâtel 3.5%15 cities: 4% to under 5%154–52 cities: 5% to under 6%25–62 cities: 6% to under 7%26–71 city: 8% to under 9%18–91 city: 9% to under 10%19–101 city: 11% to under 12%111–12

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Median gross salary (regional)4,307 EUR/month31 Dec 2024www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch11Official
Unemployment rate3.5 %country median 2.3%31 Dec 2022Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS/FSO), source data SECO1Official

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Neuchâtel. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

arbeit.swiss — Public employment service

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs / public employment service

Job SearchCareer Counselling
Register
Open the Switzerland service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Neuchâtel. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Mobility and administration

MetricValuePeriodSource
Nearest airportVIP3 Aug 2026OurAirports4Official
Distance to nearest airport17 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports4Official

Language courses and integration

No exact city-level course record is currently published for Neuchâtel. These verified national programmes may still apply; use the official programme page to check local availability.

Country-level information

Cantonal integration programmes — Newcomer Adaptation

SEM and cantons

For migrants, refugees.

German, French, ItalianIn Person
Open official information

fide language promotion system — State Language Course

State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)

For adult migrants.

German, French, ItalianIn Person, Online
Open official information
Open the full Switzerland section
National programme information is not treated as proof of a course location in Neuchâtel.

Climate and air quality

Is the air quality good in Neuchâtel?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 9.4 µg/m³ (2021) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: cdn.who.int2

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Neuchâtel average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C-10°0°10°20°30°JFMAMJJASOND25°0°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Neuchâtel average monthly precipitation, mm0255075100695863678787929977887693JFMAMJJASONDmm
Sunshine through the yearAverage monthly sunshine, hours
Neuchâtel average monthly sunshine, hours06513019526053921571882082322542341791085640JFMAMJJASONDhours
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Neuchâtel annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5259.4PM2.5µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in SwitzerlandAnnual PM2.5 in Neuchâtel is 9.4 µg/m³. Of 42 cities with data, 11 have annual PM2.5 of 8 to under 9 µg/m³.
annual PM2.5, µg/m³ · measured cities in Switzerland per band1 city: 2 µg/m³ to under 3 µg/m³12–33 cities: 6 µg/m³ to under 7 µg/m³36–78 cities: 7 µg/m³ to under 8 µg/m³87–811 cities: 8 µg/m³ to under 9 µg/m³118–99 cities: 9 µg/m³ to under 10 µg/m³99–10Neuchâtel 9.48 cities: 10 µg/m³ to under 11 µg/m³810–111 city: 16 µg/m³ to under 17 µg/m³116–171 city: 17 µg/m³ to under 18 µg/m³117–18

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
PM2.5 — annual mean9.4 µg/m³country median 8.831 Dec 2021cdn.who.int2Official
Average daytime high by monthJan 3.9 · Feb 5.6 · Mar 10.6 · Apr 15 · May 18.9 · Jun 22.9 · Jul 25.3 · Aug 24.7 · Sep 19.8 · Oct 14.1 · Nov 8.1 · Dec 4.6 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI10Official
Average night-time low by monthJan -0.3 · Feb -0.1 · Mar 2.9 · Apr 6 · May 9.9 · Jun 13.5 · Jul 15.4 · Aug 15.2 · Sep 11.7 · Oct 8 · Nov 3.5 · Dec 0.6 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI10Official
Average temperature by monthJan 1.8 · Feb 2.6 · Mar 6.5 · Apr 10.3 · May 14.2 · Jun 18 · Jul 20.1 · Aug 19.6 · Sep 15.5 · Oct 10.8 · Nov 5.8 · Dec 2.6 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI10Official
Average precipitation by monthJan 69.4 · Feb 57.8 · Mar 62.6 · Apr 67.4 · May 86.9 · Jun 86.7 · Jul 91.6 · Aug 99.4 · Sep 77.4 · Oct 87.6 · Nov 76.3 · Dec 92.5 mm31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI10Official
Average sunshine by monthJan 52.5 · Feb 92.4 · Mar 157 · Apr 187.8 · May 207.7 · Jun 231.7 · Jul 254 · Aug 233.9 · Sep 178.6 · Oct 107.7 · Nov 56.2 · Dec 40.1 hours31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI10Official

Cities of a similar size in Switzerland

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All Switzerland cities
Bellinzona45,305 residentsThun44,125 residentsKöniz43,508 residentsChur39,177 residentsFribourg39,151 residentsSchaffhausen38,964 residents

Population and city profile

How many people live in Neuchâtel?

The published population was 45,309 people in 2024. Source: Switzerland official denominator source9

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population
Neuchâtel residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport67.1%Foreign residents32.9%

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Cars per 1,000 residents463.3 cars/1000 residents31 Dec 2024Swiss Federal Statistical Office/OFS/BFS8Official
City area30.07 km²2020Exact BFS Arealstatistik municipality area: sum of exhaustive NOAS top-level categories 1-4, PERIOD=A5 (2020-2025), FJ=2020, municipality REGION state 2025-01-01; hectares converted to km².3Official
Foreign Nonpermanent Resident Population Total483 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 20245Official
Foreign residents14,925 people31 Dec 2024Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024.6Official
Nonpermanent Resident Population Total483 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 20245Official
Population density1,507 people/km²31 Dec 2024Reproducible density from BFS STATPOP permanent population at 31.12.2024 divided by the exact official BFS municipality area denominator (2020-2025; FJ=2020; area observed_at=2020).3Official
Population45,309 people31 Dec 2024Switzerland official denominator source9Official
Swiss Nonpermanent Resident Population Total0 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 20245Official
Swiss Permanent Resident Population Total30,384 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 20245Official

International community in Neuchâtel

Named groups from exact city-grain official distributions. Citizenship, birthplace, language and ancestry answer different questions and stay separate.

Country of birth

Permanent resident population, total sex, all ages · 2025-12-31

Published groupPeopleShare
Place of birth - total45,466100.0%
In Switzerland26,71758.8%
Abroad18,74941.2%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source7

Country of birth

Non-permanent resident population, total sex, all ages · 2025-12-31

Published groupPeopleShare
Place of birth - total424100.0%
Abroad41798.3%
In Switzerland71.7%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source7

Citizenship

Non-permanent resident population, total sex, all ages · 2025-12-31

Published groupPeopleShare
Citizenship - total424100.0%
France9923.3%
Germany5813.7%
Canada327.5%
Italy307.1%
Portugal255.9%
China204.7%
United States153.5%
Afghanistan143.3%
Spain133.1%
Show 46 more groups
Published groupPeopleShare
Tunisia102.4%
Eritrea81.9%
Romania61.4%
United Kingdom51.2%
Netherlands51.2%
Ukraine51.2%
Colombia51.2%
Syria51.2%
Congo (Kinshasa)40.9%
Brazil40.9%
Iran40.9%
No indication30.7%
Belgium30.7%
Poland30.7%
Türkiye30.7%
Algeria30.7%
Côte d'Ivoire30.7%
Greece20.5%
Sweden20.5%
Serbia20.5%
Croatia20.5%
Russia20.5%
Ethiopia20.5%
Angola20.5%
Morocco20.5%
Nigeria20.5%
Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)20.5%
Bulgaria10.2%
Ireland10.2%
Norway10.2%
Slovakia10.2%
Kosovo10.2%
Benin10.2%
Burkina Faso10.2%
Sudan10.2%
Chad10.2%
Egypt10.2%
Chile10.2%
Dominican Republic10.2%
Paraguay10.2%
Mongolia10.2%
Nepal10.2%
Pakistan10.2%
Thailand10.2%
Armenia10.2%
Kazakhstan10.2%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source7

Is Neuchâtel a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker63%strong on work, weak on safety · range 53–73%
Skilled employee64%strong on work, weak on safety · range 54–74%
Student60%strong on cost, weak on safety · range 48–72%
Family61%strong on family, weak on safety · range 49–73%
Retirement53%strong on legal route, weak on admin · range 41–65%
Foreign residents14,925 people31 Dec 2024Official source · Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024.
Population45,309 people31 Dec 2024Official source · Switzerland official denominator source
Median gross salary (regional)4,307 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Official source · www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch
Unemployment rate3.5 %31 Dec 2022Official source · Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS/FSO), source data SECO
PM2.5 — annual mean9.4 µg/m³31 Dec 2021Official source · cdn.who.int
Cars per 1,000 residents463.3 cars/1000 residents31 Dec 2024Official source · Swiss Federal Statistical Office/OFS/BFS
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-08-27

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Neuchâtel under the national coverage rules.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

How many people live in Neuchâtel?

The published population was 45,309 people in 2024. Source: Switzerland official denominator source.

Is the air quality good in Neuchâtel?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 9.4 µg/m³ (2021) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: cdn.who.int.

What is the unemployment rate in Neuchâtel?

The unemployment rate is 3.5 % (2022). Source: Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS/FSO), source data SECO.

What is the typical salary around Neuchâtel?

The median gross salary is 4,307 EUR/month. Source: www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch.

How many foreign residents live in Neuchâtel?

14,925 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024..

Is Neuchâtel a good place to live?

Neuchâtel may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

How many people born in Place of birth - total live in Neuchâtel?

The official country of birth distribution records 45,466 people (100.0%) in the source-defined population for 2025-12-31. This is a country of birth measure, not a general estimate of ethnicity or migration status.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 12). Neuchâtel, Switzerland: salary, jobs [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ch/6458-neuchatel/ Retrieved 2026-09-12. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_neuchatel-switzerland-salary-jobs_b8df0d55176f,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Neuchâtel, Switzerland: salary, jobs},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-12},
  version = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  snapshot = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ch/6458-neuchatel/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-12. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Neuchâtel, Switzerland: salary, jobs](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ch/6458-neuchatel/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; retrieved 2026-09-12; built 2026-09-12.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS/FSO), source data SECO dam-api.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-04
  2. cdn.who.int cdn.who.int · checked 2026-08-26
  3. Exact BFS Arealstatistik municipality area: sum of exhaustive NOAS top-level categories 1-4, PERIOD=A5 (2020-2025), FJ=2020, municipality REGION state 2025-01-01; hectares converted to km². disseminate.stats.swiss · checked 2026-07-15
  4. OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
  5. Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 2024 pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-07-18
  6. Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024. pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2024-12-31
  7. Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-30
  8. Swiss Federal Statistical Office/OFS/BFS pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-08
  9. Switzerland official denominator source pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-07-14
  10. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-02
Show 1 more source
  1. www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-27

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