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Living in Winterthur

Winterthur is a city in Switzerland. For Winterthur, the foreign population was 32,229 at the end of 2024. Winterthur had a population of 120,376 at the end of 2024.

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

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 Winterthur.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

How much does it cost to rent in Winterthur?

Average net cold rent is 17.9 EUR/m² per month (2023), excluding heating and operating charges.

Published average over existing tenancies; a specific flat can sit either side of it. Asking-rent series, where present, are separate rows in the table.

  • Average net rent (nettokalt): 17.9 EUR/m²/month · Eurostat5

City-level rent is published below; no city-level cost-of-living basket is published for Winterthur yet.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Average net rent (nettokalt)17.9 EUR/m²/month31 Dec 2023Eurostat5Official

Worked out from these numbers

What does a 60 m² flat cost?

About 1,074 EUR a month in cold rent at the published average of 17.9 EUR/m² per month, before heating and operating charges.

Heating, water and operating charges come on top, and a specific flat can sit either side of an average.

Source period: 2023

Work and income

What is the unemployment rate in Winterthur?

The unemployment rate is 1.9 % (2022). Source: Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS/FSO), source data SECO3

Unemployment across cities in SwitzerlandUnemployment in Winterthur is 1.9%. 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%511–2Winterthur 1.9%52 cities: 2% to under 3%522–338 cities: 3% to under 4%383–415 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)4,640 EUR/month31 Dec 2024www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch19Official
Unemployment rate1.9 %country median 2.3%31 Dec 2022Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS/FSO), source data SECO3Official

Public employment service

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

Mobility and administration

MetricValuePeriodSource
Destinations from nearest airport137 count3 Aug 2026OpenFlights7Official
Nearest airportZRH3 Aug 2026OurAirports8Official
Distance to nearest airport14 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports8Official

Language courses and integration

No exact city-level course record is currently published for Winterthur. 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 Winterthur.

Climate and air quality

Is the air quality good in Winterthur?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 8.8 µg/m³ (2020) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: cdn.who.int4

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
Winterthur average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C-10°0°10°20°30°JFMAMJJASOND24°-3°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Winterthur average monthly precipitation, mm035701051407571808512512412412691898397JFMAMJJASONDmm
Sunshine through the yearAverage monthly sunshine, hours
Winterthur average monthly sunshine, hours0601201802405377131164181206225205148945139JFMAMJJASONDhours
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Winterthur annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5258.8PM2.5µg/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 Winterthur is 8.8 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/m³118–9Winterthur 8.89 cities: 9 µg/m³ to under 10 µg/m³99–108 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 mean8.8 µg/m³country median 8.8 — about the same31 Dec 2020cdn.who.int4Official
Average daytime high by monthJan 3.3 · Feb 4.9 · Mar 9.9 · Apr 14.4 · May 18.7 · Jun 22.2 · Jul 24.2 · Aug 23.8 · Sep 19 · Oct 13.6 · Nov 7.4 · Dec 3.9 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI14Official
Average night-time low by monthJan -2.8 · Feb -3.1 · Mar -0.1 · Apr 2.7 · May 7.2 · Jun 11 · Jul 12.7 · Aug 12.6 · Sep 8.8 · Oct 5.3 · Nov 0.9 · Dec -1.9 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI15Official
Average temperature by monthJan 0.4 · Feb 1 · Mar 4.8 · Apr 8.6 · May 13 · Jun 16.7 · Jul 18.4 · Aug 18 · Sep 13.6 · Oct 9.4 · Nov 4.3 · Dec 1.2 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI16Official
Average precipitation by monthJan 74.8 · Feb 71 · Mar 79.8 · Apr 85 · May 124.7 · Jun 124 · Jul 124.1 · Aug 126 · Sep 90.5 · Oct 88.9 · Nov 83.2 · Dec 96.8 mm31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI17Official
Average sunshine by monthJan 52.8 · Feb 76.8 · Mar 130.5 · Apr 163.8 · May 180.6 · Jun 205.5 · Jul 225.3 · Aug 205 · Sep 148.4 · Oct 94.2 · Nov 51.2 · Dec 38.9 hours31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI18Official

Cities of a similar size in Switzerland

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

All Switzerland cities
Bern137,995 residentsLausanne144,873 residentsLuzern86,234 residentsBasel177,571 residentsSt. Gallen78,863 residentsGenève209,061 residents

Population and city profile

How many people live in Winterthur?

The published population was 120,376 people in 2024. Source: Switzerland official denominator source13

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population
Winterthur residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport73.2%Foreign residents26.8%

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

MetricValuePeriodSource
Area68.07 km²31 Dec 2024BFS — Arealstatistik (cooperation with swisstopo)1Official
Cars per 1,000 residents377.4 cars/1000 residents31 Dec 2024Swiss Federal Statistical Office/OFS/BFS12Official
City area68.11 km²2017Exact BFS Arealstatistik municipality area: sum of exhaustive NOAS top-level categories 1-4, PERIOD=A4 (2013-2018), FJ=2017, municipality REGION state 2025-01-01; hectares converted to km².6Official
Foreign Nonpermanent Resident Population Total656 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 20249Official
Foreign residents32,229 people31 Dec 2024Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024.10Official
Nonpermanent Resident Population Total656 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 20249Official
Population density1,767 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=2017; area observed_at=2017).6Official
Population120,376 people31 Dec 2024Switzerland official denominator source13Official
Swiss Nonpermanent Resident Population Total0 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 20249Official
Swiss Permanent Resident Population Total88,147 people31 Dec 2024Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 20249Official
Foreign residents over time17 published observations, 2009–2025
Foreign residents in Winterthur by year, residents22,67326,09429,51632,937200920132019202532,229residents

Foreign residents rose 35.5% between 2009 and 2025, from 23,787 to 32,229.

International community in Winterthur

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 - total120,741100.0%
In Switzerland79,53165.9%
Abroad41,21034.1%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source11

Country of birth

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

Published groupPeopleShare
Place of birth - total586100.0%
Abroad56396.1%
In Switzerland233.9%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source11

Citizenship

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

Published groupPeopleShare
Citizenship - total586100.0%
Ukraine10217.4%
Germany8514.5%
Italy569.6%
Spain406.8%
France233.9%
Austria172.9%
Afghanistan172.9%
Poland142.4%
Portugal132.2%
Show 65 more groups
Published groupPeopleShare
Romania132.2%
United States122.0%
Bulgaria111.9%
Türkiye101.7%
United Kingdom81.4%
Czechia81.4%
Greece71.2%
Slovakia71.2%
Croatia71.2%
Kosovo71.2%
Netherlands61.0%
Hungary61.0%
Sri Lanka61.0%
China61.0%
Denmark50.9%
Sweden50.9%
Brazil50.9%
Ethiopia40.7%
Nigeria40.7%
Eritrea40.7%
Japan40.7%
South Korea40.7%
Belgium30.5%
Finland30.5%
Morocco30.5%
Colombia30.5%
Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)30.5%
India30.5%
Iran30.5%
No indication20.3%
Albania20.3%
Serbia20.3%
Bosnia and Herzegovina20.3%
North Macedonia20.3%
Russia20.3%
Kenya20.3%
El Salvador20.3%
Mexico20.3%
Syria20.3%
Thailand20.3%
Vietnam20.3%
Australia20.3%
Luxembourg10.2%
Norway10.2%
Montenegro10.2%
Lithuania10.2%
Belarus10.2%
Guinea10.2%
Burkina Faso10.2%
Senegal10.2%
Somalia10.2%
South Sudan10.2%
Argentina10.2%
Ecuador10.2%
Canada10.2%
Paraguay10.2%
Peru10.2%
Venezuela10.2%
Iraq10.2%
Jordan10.2%
Cambodia10.2%
Mongolia10.2%
Singapore10.2%
Azerbaijan10.2%
New Zealand10.2%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source11

Is Winterthur 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 worker57%strong on work, weak on safety · range 48–66%
Skilled employee65%strong on work, weak on safety · range 56–74%
Student33%strong on legal route, weak on safety · range 22–44%
Family58%strong on family, weak on safety · range 47–69%
Retirement47%strong on legal route, weak on admin · range 36–58%
Foreign residents32,229 people31 Dec 2024Official source · Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024.
Population120,376 people31 Dec 2024Official source · Switzerland official denominator source
Average net rent (nettokalt)17.9 EUR/m²/month31 Dec 2023Official source · Eurostat
Median gross salary (regional)4,640 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Official source · www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch
Unemployment rate1.9 %31 Dec 2022Official source · Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS/FSO), source data SECO
PM2.5 — annual mean8.8 µg/m³31 Dec 2020Official source · cdn.who.int
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-08-27

Additional context

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

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Winterthur 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 Winterthur?

The published population was 120,376 people in 2024. Source: Switzerland official denominator source.

How much does it cost to rent in Winterthur?

Average net cold rent is 17.9 EUR/m² per month (2023), excluding heating and operating charges. For a 70 m² flat that is about 1,253 EUR a month before utilities. Source: Eurostat.

Is the air quality good in Winterthur?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 8.8 µg/m³ (2020) — 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 Winterthur?

The unemployment rate is 1.9 % (2022). Source: Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS/FSO), source data SECO.

What is the typical salary around Winterthur?

The median gross salary is 4,640 EUR/month. Source: www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch.

How many foreign residents live in Winterthur?

32,229 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024..

Is Winterthur a good place to live?

Winterthur 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 Winterthur?

The official country of birth distribution records 120,741 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). Winterthur, Switzerland: rent, salary, jobs [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ch/winterthur/ Retrieved 2026-09-12. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_winterthur-switzerland-rent-salary-jobs_8f0e445551aa,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Winterthur, Switzerland: rent, salary, jobs},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-12},
  version = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  snapshot = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ch/winterthur/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-12. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Winterthur, Switzerland: rent, salary, jobs](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/ch/winterthur/) — 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. BFS — Arealstatistik (cooperation with swisstopo) BFS · bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-06-29
  2. BFS — STATPOP 2024 Medialter (Median Alter) BFS · bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-06-29
  3. Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS/FSO), source data SECO dam-api.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-04
  4. cdn.who.int cdn.who.int · checked 2026-08-26
  5. Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-27
  6. Exact BFS Arealstatistik municipality area: sum of exhaustive NOAS top-level categories 1-4, PERIOD=A4 (2013-2018), FJ=2017, municipality REGION state 2025-01-01; hectares converted to km². disseminate.stats.swiss · checked 2026-07-15
  7. OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
  8. OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
  9. Permanent and non permanent resident population by municipality, resident type and citizenship, 2024 pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-07-18
  10. Ständige Wohnbevölkerung, Staatsangehörigkeit = Ausland, Gemeinde grain, 31.12.2024. pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2024-12-31
Show 9 more sources
  1. Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-30
  2. Swiss Federal Statistical Office/OFS/BFS pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-08
  3. Switzerland official denominator source pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-07-14
  4. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  5. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  6. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  7. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  8. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  9. www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch pxweb.bfs.admin.ch · checked 2026-08-27

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.