The canton of Bern in numbers

Income tax (single, 80k)

CHF 11'666 per year — Rank 3 of 26 (ESTV, 2026). Total income+wealth tax (federal+cantonal+communal) for a single person earning CHF 80,000, at the canton capital, 2026 (ESTV). Lower is cheaper. The single biggest location lever — e.g. Zug ~3,300 vs Neuchâtel ~12,900/yr. Note: at the cantonal capital; varies by commune.

Rent (avg)

CHF 1'319 per month — Rank 18 of 26 (BFS Strukturerhebung, 2024). Average monthly rent of a tenant-occupied dwelling in the canton, all sizes (2024). Lower is cheaper. The biggest offset to tax savings — e.g. Zug has low taxes but the highest rents. Caveat: canton average; city vs rural varies widely.

Health premium (adult)

CHF 552.95 per month — Rank 8 of 26 (BAG / priminfo, 2026). Average monthly mandatory health-insurance premium for an adult — standard model, CHF 300 deductible, accident included (2026). Lower is cheaper. A major household cost that varies a lot by canton (≈CHF 380–665/month), and a key offset to any tax saving when you move.

Electricity price

29.35 Rp./kWh — Rank 9 of 26 (ElCom, 2026). Median household electricity tariff in the canton — total price incl. energy, grid and charges, for a typical 5-room flat (4,500 kWh/yr, standard product; ElCom, 2026). Lower is cheaper. Varies by commune via the local grid operator.

Offences (per 1,000)

68.58 per 1,000 residents — Rank 6 of 26 (BFS PKS, 2024). Police-registered criminal-code offences per 1,000 residents (BFS Police Crime Statistics, 2024). Lower means fewer registered offences. Caveat: reporting behaviour varies, and city cantons count offences by commuters and visitors while only residents are in the denominator — Basel-Stadt and Geneva rank high partly for that reason.

Vacancy rate

1.12% — Rank 9 of 26 (BFS LWZ, 2025). Share of dwellings standing empty and offered for rent or sale on 1 June (BFS vacancy count, 2025). Higher means it is easier to find a flat; very low values (like Geneva or Zug) mean a tight housing market with more competition and rising rents.

Sunshine

1'781.9 hours per year — Rank 12 of 24 (MeteoSwiss, 2025). Average hours of sunshine per year, measured at the canton’s weather stations. Higher means sunnier.

Jobs

673'665 jobs — Rank 2 of 26 (BFS STATENT, 2023). Total jobs located in the canton (full- and part-time). A measure of the size of the local job market.

Net migration (per 1,000)

8.03‰ — Rank 16 of 26 (BFS Demografische Bilanz, 2024). People moving in minus those moving out, per 1,000 residents (international plus between cantons). Positive means the canton is growing through migration.

Foreign residents

18.36% — Rank 20 of 26 (BFS STATPOP, 2024). Share of residents who are foreign nationals (not Swiss citizens). A higher value means a more international population.

Fiscal balance per capita

−CHF 169 per person — Rank 16 of 26 (EFV FS-Modell, 2024). The canton’s yearly budget result per resident — revenue minus spending. Positive is a surplus (earns more than it spends); negative is a deficit, which can signal future tax pressure.

Hospital beds (per 1,000)

4.55 per 1,000 residents — Rank 8 of 21 (BFS Krankenhausstatistik, 2024). Hospital beds available per 1,000 residents. Higher means more hospital capacity in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

Popular comparisons

Zurich vs Bern · Bern vs Fribourg · Bern vs Solothurn · Bern vs Vaud