Zurich, Switzerland
Answers · current to October 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 $56,114 a year on a $1M income.

In short, current to October 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 $308,263 in Zumikon against $364,377 in Stadt Zürich, $56,114 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 $213,033 on the same $1M, $95,230 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.

Official sources: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, Canton of Zurich, Swiss Federal Law (Fedlex). Checked against them between and .

Source: the Patrician.ch board, an original ranking of 100 residence addresses across 47 countries and territories. Tax rates, thresholds and routes are sourced. Cost, safety, schools, sun and beauty are Patrician.ch editorial indices. Figures current to October 2026. Updated . Cite as: Patrician.ch, Cheapest municipalities around Zurich for high earners, 2026, patrician.ch/answers/cheapest-municipalities-around-zurich-for-high-earners/, October 2026.

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By the Patrician.ch research desk · Updated 7 November 2026 · 10 min read
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 after tax, a year
ZumikonMeilen71%−22.4%$308,263+$56,114
KilchbergHorgen72%−22.0%$309,432+$54,945
HerrlibergMeilen73%−21.5%$310,601+$53,776
KüsnachtMeilen73%−21.5%$310,601+$53,776
RüschlikonHorgen75%−20.6%$312,939+$51,438
ErlenbachMeilen76%−20.1%$314,108+$50,269
ZollikonMeilen76%−20.1%$314,108+$50,269
WinkelBülach76%−20.1%$314,108+$50,269
NeerachDielsdorf77%−19.6%$315,277+$49,100
ThalwilHorgen78%−19.2%$316,446+$47,931
UitikonDietikon78%−19.2%$316,446+$47,931
MeilenMeilen79%−18.7%$317,615+$46,762
Stadt ZürichZürich119%the reference$364,377
See these 2 places for your own income.Zurich and Zug, side by side on your income, passports and family. Free, in the ranking of all 100. Then the Dossier: a written report in 10 chapters on the 3 places that rank first for you. The Dossier is $500. The founding price, $250, holds until 30 November.
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The other end.

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

CommuneDistrictSteuerfuss 2026Canton and commune, against the cityTax on $1MKept after tax, a year
WinterthurWinterthur125%+2.8%$371,391−$7,014
BachsDielsdorf128%+4.2%$374,898−$10,521
MaschwandenAffoltern128%+4.2%$374,898−$10,521

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, standard allowances only. 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.

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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 $53,776 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 $213,033 on $1M, against $308,263 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.

The Dossier: your top 3, on your numbers.A written report on the 3 places that rank first for you, compared line by line on your income, a sale, your passports and your family. 10 chapters, written the moment you pay. Every tax figure carries its official source and the date it was last checked. The Dossier is $500. The founding price, $250, holds until 30 November. Refunded in full within 7 days of delivery, no reason needed.
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