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Living in Bern

Bern is the national capital of Switzerland.

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

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 Bern.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

Practical estimates in July 2026 placed basic utilities for an 85 m² home at €245.92 per month, fixed internet at €49.43 per month, and an inexpensive restaurant meal at €25.68. A monthly estimate placed a mobile plan with at least 10 GB of data at €25 in July 2026.

No city-level rent figure is published for Bern. The available city-level cost figures remain below.

What recurs every month5 published recurring costs, € per month
Bern recurring monthly costs, € per month€2829Private kindergarten€246Utilities, 85 m² flat€80Fitness club€49Internet, 60 Mbps€25Mobile plan, 10 GB€ / month

Supplemental estimate lane; these items are not official statistics.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Fitness club membership, monthly80.01 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Bern19Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited49.43 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Bern19Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Private kindergarten, monthly2,829 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Bern19Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant25.68 EUR31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Bern19Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Mobile plan, 10 GB25.4 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Bern19Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Basic utilities, 85 m² home245.9 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Bern19Commercial estimate · Supplemental context

Work and income

What is the unemployment rate in Bern?

The unemployment rate is about 4.8 % (2021).

  • Unemployment rate: 4.84 % · Eurostat5
Unemployment across cities in SwitzerlandUnemployment in Bern is 4.8%. 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%383–415 cities: 4% to under 5%154–5Bern 4.8%2 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.ch18Official
Unemployment rate4.84 %country median 2.3%31 Dec 2021Eurostat5Official

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Bern. 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 Bern. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Safety

How safe is Bern?

Police recorded about 20,196 incidents per 100,000 (2025). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source.

  • Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents: 20,196 offences per 100,000 · Kantonspolizei Bern / BFS — Bern Gemeinde PKS 2025 total11
MetricValuePeriodSource
Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents20,196 offences per 100,00031 Dec 2025Kantonspolizei Bern / BFS — Bern Gemeinde PKS 2025 total11Official

Mobility and administration

MetricValuePeriodSource
Destinations from nearest airport12 count3 Aug 2026OpenFlights12Official
Nearest airportBRN3 Aug 2026OurAirports13Official
Distance to nearest airport6 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports13Official
Public transport monthly pass86 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Eurostat6Official

Language courses and integration in Bern

0 exact private or nonprofit provider records are linked to this city as supplemental evidence. Check the linked source for dates, availability and enrolment.

Verified locally

German learning and DeutschBon guidance in Bern — State Language Course

Stadt Bern / Fachstelle für Migrations- und Rassismusfragen

For foreign residents and newcomers.

GermanIn Personvaries; DeutschBon support may apply
Open official information
Check courses in BernHow the country programme works
Exact city-linked records checked 2026-08-10. Provider-supplied records are supplemental and are not presented as official accreditation.

Climate and air quality

Monthly mean temperatures were 0.2°C in January and 18.8°C in July. Monthly precipitation was 60.3 mm in January and 108 mm in July.

Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Bern average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C-10°0°10°20°30°JFMAMJJASOND25°-3°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Bern average monthly precipitation, mm03060901206056657811210210811287877779JFMAMJJASONDmm
Sunshine through the yearAverage monthly sunshine, hours
Bern average monthly sunshine, hours06513019526066941511791972232452281751196653JFMAMJJASONDhours
MetricValuePeriodSource
Average daytime high by monthJan 3.4 · Feb 5.2 · Mar 10.3 · Apr 14.5 · May 18.6 · Jun 22.5 · Jul 24.6 · Aug 24.2 · Sep 19.4 · Oct 14 · Nov 7.7 · Dec 3.8 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV20Independent
Average night-time low by monthJan -2.9 · Feb -2.8 · Mar 0.3 · Apr 3.4 · May 7.6 · Jun 11.3 · Jul 13 · Aug 12.9 · Sep 9.2 · Oct 5.5 · Nov 1 · Dec -2.1 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV20Independent
Average temperature by monthJan 0.2 · Feb 1.1 · Mar 5.2 · Apr 9 · May 13.2 · Jun 16.9 · Jul 18.8 · Aug 18.4 · Sep 14.1 · Oct 9.5 · Nov 4.2 · Dec 0.9 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV20Independent
Average precipitation by monthJan 60.3 · Feb 55.5 · Mar 64.9 · Apr 78 · May 112.4 · Jun 101.5 · Jul 108 · Aug 112.3 · Sep 87 · Oct 86.5 · Nov 76.9 · Dec 78.5 mm1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV20Independent
Average sunshine by monthJan 66.1 · Feb 94.4 · Mar 151.3 · Apr 179.3 · May 197.1 · Jun 222.5 · Jul 245.2 · Aug 227.8 · Sep 175.2 · Oct 119.1 · Nov 66 · Dec 53.1 hours1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV20Independent

Which nearby places are linked to Bern?

Official and functional links appear before nearby-only places.

Muri Metro Member · 6.4 km10
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
5,389.4 offences per 100,000All offences · 2025source2
Murten/Morat Nearby Independent Place · 22.1 km10
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
4,690.1 offences per 100,000All offences · 2025source9
Peseux Nearby Independent Place · 39.5 km10
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Aesch Nearby Independent Place · 60.0 km10
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact

Cities of a similar size in Switzerland

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

All Switzerland cities
Lausanne144,873 residentsWinterthur120,376 residentsBasel177,571 residentsGenève209,061 residentsLuzern86,234 residentsSt. Gallen78,863 residents

Population and city profile

Bern had a population of 137,995 at the end of 2024. The city covers 51.62 km², with a population density of 2,673.3 people per km² at the end of 2024.

How many people live in Bern?

The published population was 137,995 people in 2024. Source: Switzerland official denominator source17

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population
Bern residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport74.2%Foreign residents25.8%

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

MetricValuePeriodSource
Area51.62 km²31 Dec 2024BFS — Arealstatistik (cooperation with swisstopo)3Official
Cars per 1,000 residents390.3 cars per 1000 people31 Dec 2024Eurostat6Official
City area51.62 km²2013Exact BFS Arealstatistik municipality area: sum of exhaustive NOAS top-level categories 1-4, PERIOD=A4 (2013-2018), FJ=2013, municipality REGION state 2025-01-01; hectares converted to km².8Official
Foreign Nonpermanent Resident Population Total1,832 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 202414Official
Foreign-resident share24.7 %31 Dec 2025Eurostat7Official
Foreign residents35,669 people31 Dec 2024Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024.15Official
Nonpermanent Resident Population Total1,832 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 202414Official
Population density2,673 people/km²31 Dec 2024Reproducible density from BFS STATPOP permanent population at 31.12.2024 divided by the exact official BFS municipality area denominator (2013-2018; FJ=2013; area observed_at=2013).8Official
Population137,995 people31 Dec 2024Switzerland official denominator source17Official
Swiss Nonpermanent Resident Population Total0 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 202414Official
Swiss Permanent Resident Population Total102,326 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 202414Official
Foreign residents over time10 published observations, 2016–2025
Foreign residents in Bern by year, residents33,86142,60151,34060,0802016201820202022202558,272residents

Foreign residents rose 14.5% between 2016 and 2025, from 50,891 to 58,272.

International community in Bern

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 - total138,562100.0%
In Switzerland94,79768.4%
Abroad43,76531.6%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source16

Country of birth

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

Published groupPeopleShare
Place of birth - total1,829100.0%
Abroad1,80998.9%
In Switzerland201.1%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source16

Citizenship

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

Published groupPeopleShare
Germany5,7484.1%
Italy3,7872.7%
Ukraine2,2231.6%
Spain1,9371.4%
Portugal1,3201.0%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source16

Is Bern 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 worker59%strong on work, weak on air quality · range 49–69%
Skilled employee62%strong on work, weak on education · range 52–72%
Student56%strong on cost, weak on education · range 45–67%
Family41%strong on family, weak on education · range 31–51%
Retirement49%strong on legal route, weak on admin · range 37–61%
Foreign residents35,669 people31 Dec 2024Official source · Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024.
Population137,995 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 rate4.84 %31 Dec 2021Official source · Eurostat
Area51.62 km²31 Dec 2024Official source · BFS — Arealstatistik (cooperation with swisstopo)
Cars per 1,000 residents390.3 cars per 1000 people31 Dec 2024Official source · Eurostat
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-08-27

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
Median age41.2 years31 Dec 2024BFS — STATPOP 2024 Medialter (Median Alter)4Official

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Bern 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.

Which comparable places record less crime than Bern?

6 places have a lower recorded total crime rate than Bern in this strictly source-matched cohort.

Bern: 15,476.6 offences/100k (2025).

city:ch:geonames:2660032 — 3,624.4 offences/100k2025
city:ch:geonames:2658217 — 3,682.2 offences/100k2025
city:ch:geonames:2657964 — 4,190.5 offences/100k2025
city:ch:geonames:2660156 — 4,745 offences/100k2025
Muri — 5,389.4 offences/100k2025
city:ch:geonames:2659957 — 8,123.5 offences/100k2025

Only the same source family, offence definition, period, grain and denominator method are compared. This is recorded crime, not a claim about personal safety. Official source11

Common questions

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

How many people live in Bern?

The published population was 137,995 people in 2024. Source: Switzerland official denominator source.

How safe is Bern?

Police recorded about 20,196 incidents per 100,000 (2025). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: Kantonspolizei Bern / BFS — Bern Gemeinde PKS 2025 total.

What is the unemployment rate in Bern?

The unemployment rate is about 4.8 % (2021). Source: Eurostat.

What is the typical salary around Bern?

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

How many foreign residents live in Bern?

35,669 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024..

Is Bern a good place to live?

Bern 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.

Which nearby places are linked to Bern?

Muri, Murten/Morat, Peseux, Aesch are linked in the current source-backed set. The relationship label distinguishes administrative, metropolitan, commuting and distance-only links.

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

The official country of birth distribution records 138,562 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.

Which comparable places record less crime than Bern?

6 places have a lower recorded total crime rate than Bern in this strictly source-matched cohort. The comparison uses Kantonspolizei Bern PKS 2025 T4 StGB municipal table, period 2025, and does not compare across incompatible police definitions.

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). Bern, Switzerland: salary, cost of living [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ch/bern/ Retrieved 2026-09-12. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_bern-switzerland-salary-cost-of-living_56290b11b001,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Bern, Switzerland: salary, cost of living},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-12},
  version = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  snapshot = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ch/bern/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-12. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Bern, Switzerland: salary, cost of living](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ch/bern/) — 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. agvchapp.bfs.admin.ch recorded crime data agvchapp.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-28
  2. api3.geo.admin.ch recorded crime data api3.geo.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-28
  3. BFS — Arealstatistik (cooperation with swisstopo) BFS · bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-06-29
  4. BFS — STATPOP 2024 Medialter (Median Alter) BFS · bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-06-29
  5. Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-02
  6. Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-03
  7. Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-02
  8. Exact BFS Arealstatistik municipality area: sum of exhaustive NOAS top-level categories 1-4, PERIOD=A4 (2013-2018), FJ=2013, municipality REGION state 2025-01-01; hectares converted to km². disseminate.stats.swiss · checked 2026-07-15
  9. fr.ch recorded crime data fr.ch · checked 2026-08-28
  10. gisco-services.ec.europa.eu place coordinates gisco-services.ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-28
Show 10 more sources
  1. Kantonspolizei Bern / BFS — Bern Gemeinde PKS 2025 total Kantonspolizei Bern / BFS · police.be.ch · checked 2026-07-29
  2. OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
  3. OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
  4. Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 2024 pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-07-18
  5. Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024. pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2024-12-31
  6. Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-30
  7. Switzerland official denominator source pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-07-14
  8. www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-27
  9. Lebenshaltungskosten in Bern de.numbeo.com · checked 2026-07-26
  10. WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-07-26

Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.