Zurich vs Aargau
In short: taxes are lower in Zurich, rent is cheaper in Aargau and the health premium is lower in Aargau. All metrics in detail:
| Metric | Zurich | Aargau | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income tax (single, 80k) | CHF 7'945 | CHF 8'354 | ESTV · 2026 |
| Rent (avg) | CHF 1'768 | CHF 1'494 | BFS Strukturerhebung · 2024 |
| Health premium, standard model (adult) | CHF 619.43 | CHF 596.25 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Lowest health premium (adult) | CHF 368.92 | CHF 363.7 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Average health premium (adult) | CHF 477.08 | CHF 464.7 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Health premium saving potential (adult) | CHF 108.16 | CHF 101 | BAG / priminfo · 2027 |
| Premium subsidy recipients | 32.3% | 26.8% | BAG KVSTAT T 4.02 · 2025 |
| Premium subsidy per recipient | CHF 2'681 | CHF 2'222 | BAG KVSTAT T 4.08 · 2025 |
| Premium subsidy as share of premium | 61.5% | 52.6% | BAG KVSTAT T 4.08 · 2025 |
| Electricity price | 24.63 | 26.88 | ElCom · 2027 |
| Offences (per 1,000) | 68.05 | 48.13 | BFS PKS · 2024 |
| Violent offences (per 1,000) | 5.85 | 3.62 | BFS PKS · 2025 |
| Vacancy rate | 0.48% | 1.18% | BFS LWZ · 2025 |
| New dwellings (per 1,000) | 4.77 | 4.63 | BFS Bau- und Wohnbaustatistik · 2024 |
| Sunshine | 1'799.5 h | 1'752.1 h | MeteoSwiss · 2025 |
| Jobs | 1'149'866 | 364'295 | BFS STATENT · 2024 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 3.2% | SECO amstat · 2026 |
| Cross-border commuters (share of jobs) | 1.08% | 4.27% | BFS GGS/STATENT · 2024 |
| Median net income | CHF 62'050 | CHF 59'900 | ESTV dBSt · 2022 |
| Naturalisations (per 1,000 foreigners) | 22.7 | 15.9 | BFS/SEM Einbürgerungsstatistik · 2025 |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 1.08% | BFS Demografische Bilanz · 2025 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 9.17 | 8.66 | BFS BEVNAT · 2025 |
| Net migration (per 1,000) | 6.26‰ | 9.69‰ | BFS Demografische Bilanz · 2025 |
| Foreign residents | 29.19% | 28.14% | BFS STATPOP · 2025 |
| Fiscal balance per capita | −CHF 283 | CHF 258 | EFV FS-Modell · 2024 |
| Cantonal net debt per capita | CHF 2'512 | −CHF 795 | EFV Finanzstatistik · 2024 |
| Hospital beds (per 1,000) | 3.68 | 4.54 | BFS Krankenhausstatistik · 2024 |
| Cars per 1,000 residents | 471.42 | 575.31 | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Electric share of car fleet | 5.36% | 4.14% | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Electric share of new cars | 19.83% | 21.24% | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Motorbikes per 1,000 residents | 78.65 | 88.1 | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Goods vehicles per 1,000 residents | 43.5 | 56.27 | BFS/ASTRA IVZ · 2024 |
| Gigabit broadband availability | 92.5% | 85.1% | BAKOM Breitbandatlas · 2026 |
| Public-transport accessibility (ARE index) | 8'882.3 | 2'095.2 | ARE Erreichbarkeit · 2017 |
| Solar power per resident | 565.9 | 1'018.8 | BFE Pronovo register · 2026 |
| Population in Energiestadt communes | 70.8% | 35.5% | BFE Energiestadt · 2025 |
| Organic farmland share | 17.87% | 13.85% | BFS Landwirtschaftsstatistik · 2025 |
| Municipal waste per resident | 258.21 | 202.89 | BFS Cercle Indicateurs · 2023 |
| Separately collected waste share | 29.94% | 25.32% | BFS Cercle Indicateurs · 2023 |
Frequently asked questions
Where are taxes lower: Zurich or Aargau?
In the canton of Zurich (CHF 7'945 per year).
Where is rent cheaper: Zurich or Aargau?
In the canton of Aargau (CHF 1'494 per month).