The canton of Lucerne in numbers
The canton of Lucerne in brief: a single person earning CHF 80,000 gross pays CHF 8'246 in taxes per year in the capital (rank 20 of 26), average rent is CHF 1'500 per month and the health-insurance premium CHF 485.85 per month — with around 1'672.2 hours of sunshine per year. Every figure below comes from an official source and is dated.
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| Metric | Value | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income tax (single, 80k) | CHF 8'246 per year | Rank 20 of 26 | ESTV · 2026 |
| Rent (avg) | CHF 1'500 per month | Rank 7 of 26 | BFS Strukturerhebung · 2024 |
| Health premium (adult) | CHF 485.85 per month | Rank 19 of 26 | BAG / priminfo · 2026 |
| Electricity price | 25.41 Rp./kWh | Rank 20 of 26 | ElCom · 2026 |
| Offences (per 1,000) | 50.76 per 1,000 residents | Rank 11 of 26 | BFS PKS · 2024 |
| Vacancy rate | 0.78% | Rank 17 of 26 | BFS LWZ · 2025 |
| Sunshine | 1'672.2 hours per year | Rank 23 of 24 | MeteoSwiss · 2025 |
| Jobs | 272'217 jobs | Rank 7 of 26 | BFS STATENT · 2023 |
| Net migration (per 1,000) | 9.7‰ | Rank 8 of 26 | BFS Demografische Bilanz · 2024 |
| Foreign residents | 21.53% | Rank 18 of 26 | BFS STATPOP · 2024 |
| Fiscal balance per capita | CHF 527 per person | Rank 5 of 26 | EFV FS-Modell · 2024 |
| Hospital beds (per 1,000) | 3.71 per 1,000 residents | Rank 13 of 21 | BFS Krankenhausstatistik · 2024 |
Income tax (single, 80k)
CHF 8'246 per year — Rank 20 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 1'500 per month — Rank 7 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 485.85 per month — Rank 19 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
25.41 Rp./kWh — Rank 20 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)
50.76 per 1,000 residents — Rank 11 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
0.78% — Rank 17 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
1'672.2 hours per year — Rank 23 of 24 (MeteoSwiss, 2025). Average hours of sunshine per year, measured at the canton’s weather stations. Higher means sunnier.
Jobs
272'217 jobs — Rank 7 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)
9.7‰ — Rank 8 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
21.53% — Rank 18 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 527 per person — Rank 5 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)
3.71 per 1,000 residents — Rank 13 of 21 (BFS Krankenhausstatistik, 2024). Hospital beds available per 1,000 residents. Higher means more hospital capacity in the canton.
Frequently asked questions
How high are taxes in the canton of Lucerne?
A single person earning CHF 80,000 gross pays about CHF 8'246 in income and wealth tax per year in the capital of the canton of Lucerne (ESTV, 2026) — rank 20 of 26 cantons.
How expensive is rent in the canton of Lucerne?
The average monthly rent of a rented home in the canton of Lucerne is CHF 1'500 (BFS, 2024) — rank 7 of 26 cantons.
How high is the health-insurance premium in the canton of Lucerne?
The average monthly basic-insurance premium for an adult in the canton of Lucerne is CHF 485.85 (BAG/priminfo, 2026) — rank 19 of 26 cantons.
How sunny is the canton of Lucerne?
In the canton of Lucerne the sun shines an average of 1'672.2 hours per year (MeteoSwiss, 2025) — rank 23 of 24 cantons.
What would moving to the canton of Lucerne cost?
With the free Swiss Living Index move calculator you can compare taxes, rent and health premiums between your commune and one in the canton of Lucerne — for your household, at commune level, from official data.