Croats in Zurich: Higher wages and a much higher cost of living

Switzerland offers significantly higher wages and nearly twice the purchasing power of Croatia, but life in Zurich comes at a price.

A coffee can cost as much as six francs, lunch can range from 35 to 55 francs, a two-room apartment can cost up to 2,500 euros a month, and a haircut and blow-dry can set you back more than 100 euros.

The Voice of Croatia team visited Zurich, where the Croatian Cultural Club in Switzerland recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, to explore daily life in one of the world's wealthiest countries—and to find out how Croatians living there maintain their identity and connection to home.

Zurich: Where time and money fly

Urban, bustling and business-oriented, yet relaxed at the same time, Zurich perhaps best reveals its character along the famous Bahnhofstrasse.

Near Paradeplatz, the city's financial hub, is an iconic pastry shop and a popular destination for colorful, world-famous macarons. Customers who choose their own flavors can expect to pay around 12 to 14 francs per 100 grams.

But the price of a favorite beverage for many Croatians—coffee—quickly brings the cost of life in Zurich into focus.

A coffee can cost up to six francs, while lunch for one person at a modest restaurant typically ranges from 35 to 55 francs.

For residents earning Swiss salaries, grocery prices are relatively more manageable. Services, however, can put a significant strain on household budgets.

Higher salaries, higher prices

The average gross monthly salary in Switzerland is around 6,700 francs, compared with approximately 2,164 euros in Croatia.

The difference is also evident in student jobs. Working in a café or shop in Switzerland can pay between 25 and 30 francs an hour, while the rate in Croatia is around eight euros.

But comparing prices reveals another side of life in Switzerland.

A meal at an inexpensive restaurant that costs around 12 euros in Croatia costs approximately 26.50 euros in Switzerland. A coffee that costs around 2.20 euros in Croatia is about 5.40 euros in Switzerland.

A kilogram of chicken fillet can cost as much as 27 euros, while a monthly public transport pass costs around 90 euros.

Services are particularly expensive. A wash, cut and blow-dry costs between 85 and 140 euros, while a standard men's haircut ranges from 65 to 80 euros. An hour of work by a plumber or electrician can cost as much as 190 euros.

There are also mandatory expenses such as health insurance, which can cost hundreds of francs per person each month, as well as the high cost of childcare, car repairs and other services.

A Zagreb lifestyle can cost more than €10,000 in Zurich

Despite Switzerland's significantly higher prices, purchasing power is also much greater. For many workers, this can mean having more disposable income after covering everyday expenses.

A rough comparison illustrates the difference: a standard of living requiring a monthly budget of around €3,900 in Zagreb would cost approximately €10,200 in Zurich, including rent.

The cost of living is therefore one of the key considerations for people thinking about moving to Switzerland.

Božo Vukojević arrived in Switzerland three years ago to pursue his doctorate. He points to the country's system—which places a strong emphasis on knowledge, hard work and top-level talent—as one of its major advantages. At the same time, he notes the differences in social life and the high cost of living.

From Ružička and Prelog to 80,000 Croats

Zurich is not only one of Europe's major financial centers. The city has also played an important role in science, art and culture.

In 1916, refugee artists created the Dada movement in Zurich, defying the turmoil and destruction of the First World War.

The city is also closely associated with prominent Croatian figures, including Nobel laureates Lavoslav Ružička and Vladimir Prelog. They are far from the only Croats to have contributed their work and expertise to Zurich and Switzerland.

Today, around 80,000 Croats live in Switzerland, with the Canton of Zurich serving as their largest and one of their most important centers.

While early generations of Croatian immigrants worked primarily in industry, today's generations are active across virtually every sector of Swiss society—from banking, IT and science to hospitality and entrepreneurship.

They have embraced the precision and organization associated with Swiss life while working to preserve the Croatian language, culture and traditions.

“We carry our home with us”

Preserving that identity has been one of the main missions of the Croatian Cultural Club in Switzerland, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Club President Antonela Grill Zečević recalled the famous observation by Swiss writer Max Frisch: “We sought workers, but human beings arrived.”

“We didn't come here just to work; we came to live here, and we carry our home—our household—with us,” she said.

For 25 years, the Croatian Cultural Club has worked to nurture Croatian identity, culture and creativity while also building bridges with Swiss society.

One of the club's more difficult decisions in recent years was to discontinue its printed magazine, Libra. However, as its president emphasizes, the club did not abandon the concept—it simply moved away from the printed format.

Its activities have shifted to an online portal, which aims to become a platform for other Croatian associations as well, highlighting their events, activities and achievements.

Growing up Croatian in Switzerland

The experience of Sanja Guć Babić, a Croat born in Switzerland and the mother of an eight-year-old girl, illustrates how questions of identity continue to shape the lives of younger generations.

For families born and raised in Switzerland, maintaining a connection with Croatia can mean passing the language, traditions and sense of belonging on to their children while simultaneously building their lives in Swiss society.