Answers · current to September 2026

The cheapest communes around Zurich.

Zumikon levies 71% in 2026, the city of Zurich 119%. On the same cantonal tax, that is a cantonal and communal bill 22.4% lower, about $45,398 a year on a $1M income.

In short, current to September 2026

  • Zumikon levies 71% in 2026, the lowest of the canton's communes, ahead of Kilchberg at 72% and Herrliberg and Küsnacht at 73%. Stadt Zürich levies 119%.
  • Every commune applies its multiplier to the same cantonal simple tax, on top of the canton's own 95%. So the cantonal and communal bill in Zumikon is 22.4% lower than in the city, on any income.
  • On $1,000,000 of income, Patrician.ch's model puts the full bill at about $272,002 in Zumikon against $317,400 in Stadt Zürich, $45,398 a year kept. Federal tax is the same in every commune.
  • 12 communes sit under 80%, and 9 of them are in the 2 lake districts, Meilen on the Goldküste and Horgen on the left bank.
  • Across the canton line, the city of Zug comes to about $195,780 on the same $1M, $76,222 less than Zumikon. Zug runs its own tariff, so its commune rates do not compare with Zurich's directly.
  • Rates as published for 2026, church tax excluded. Source: Kanton Zürich, Amt für Statistik und Daten, Gemeindesteuerfüsse 2026 (natural persons, church tax excluded); Staatssteuerfuss 95% for 2026 and 2027.

Source: the Patrician.ch board, an original ranking of 100 residence addresses across 48 countries and territories. Tax rates, thresholds and routes are sourced. Cost, safety, schools, sun and beauty are Patrician.ch editorial indices. Figures current to September 2026. Updated . Cite as: Patrician.ch, Cheapest municipalities around Zurich for high earners, 2026, patrician.ch/answers/cheapest-municipalities-around-zurich-for-high-earners/, September 2026.

Ranked

Every commune under 80%.

Ordered by the 2026 Steuerfuss. The dollar columns apply each rate to the model's income tax on $1,000,000 for a single filer in Stadt Zürich, federal tax unchanged.

CommuneDistrictSteuerfuss 2026Canton and commune, against the cityTax on $1MKept a year
ZumikonMeilen71%−22.4%$272,002+$45,398
KilchbergHorgen72%−22.0%$272,948+$44,452
HerrlibergMeilen73%−21.5%$273,893+$43,507
KüsnachtMeilen73%−21.5%$273,893+$43,507
RüschlikonHorgen75%−20.6%$275,785+$41,615
ErlenbachMeilen76%−20.1%$276,731+$40,669
ZollikonMeilen76%−20.1%$276,731+$40,669
WinkelBülach76%−20.1%$276,731+$40,669
NeerachDielsdorf77%−19.6%$277,677+$39,723
ThalwilHorgen78%−19.2%$278,622+$38,778
UitikonDietikon78%−19.2%$278,622+$38,778
MeilenMeilen79%−18.7%$279,568+$37,832
Stadt ZürichZürich119%the reference$317,400

The other end.

The dearest communes in the canton, on the same model.

CommuneDistrictSteuerfuss 2026Canton and commune, against the cityTax on $1MKept a year
WinterthurWinterthur125%+2.8%$323,075−$5,675
BachsDielsdorf128%+4.2%$325,912−$8,512
MaschwandenAffoltern128%+4.2%$325,912−$8,512

Source: Kanton Zürich, Amt für Statistik und Daten, Gemeindesteuerfüsse 2026 (natural persons, church tax excluded); Staatssteuerfuss 95% for 2026 and 2027. Model: indicative 2026 brackets, single filer, no deductions. The rate columns are exact from the published figures.

The 3 quarters of Zurich, commune by commune: Zurich for a high earner. Across the canton line: Zug. Who may buy the house: Lex Koller, who can buy a home in Switzerland.

Rank Zurich on my own numbers →

Questions

The short answers.

Which municipality near Zurich has the lowest tax?

Zumikon, at 71% in 2026, the lowest in the canton of Zurich.

Kilchberg follows at 72%, then Herrliberg and Küsnacht at 73%. The city of Zurich levies 119%.

How much less tax do you pay in Küsnacht than in the city of Zurich?

The cantonal and communal bill is 21.5% lower, because Küsnacht levies 73% against the city's 119%.

On $1,000,000 of income that is about $43,507 a year on Patrician.ch's model. Federal tax does not change.

What is the Steuerfuss of the city of Zurich in 2026?

119% of the cantonal simple tax, on top of the canton's own 95%.

The canton set its rate at 95% for 2026 and 2027, down from 98%.

Is Zug cheaper than the Goldküste?

Yes. The city of Zug comes to about $195,780 on $1M, against $272,002 in Zumikon, the cheapest Zurich commune.

Zug runs its own tariff and its own commune rates. Both figures are Patrician.ch model figures for a single filer.

Which commune in the canton of Zurich has the highest tax?

Bachs and Maschwanden, at 128% in 2026.

Winterthur follows at 125%.

Does church tax change the ranking?

It is left out here. Church tax is levied only on members of the recognized churches.

Each parish sets its own rate, so it can add to the bill in any commune.

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