Answers · current to September 2026

Moving to Switzerland, from the US.

For a US citizen leaving New York, the engine puts Zermatt first in Switzerland. Income tax on $1M there is 33% with the federal floor applied, against 43% in New York.

In short, current to September 2026

  • For a US citizen leaving New York on $1M a year, the Patrician.ch engine ranks Zermatt first in Switzerland, number 44 of the 84 places outside the 50 states. It weighs tax with the US floor applied, the route in, safety, schools, sun, cost and the flight home.
  • In Zermatt, income tax on $1M for a US citizen comes to 33% with the federal floor applied, against 43% in New York, $103K a year less than New York.
  • The local rate in Zermatt on $1M, 32%, is below the US federal 33%, so the federal rate is the figure that applies to a US citizen.
  • For a US passport, the route into Zermatt is a quota or discretionary permit. The flight from New York is about 9h.
  • Switzerland has a regime for new arrivals: Lump sum taxation in the canton of Valais under Article 14 DBG, for foreign residents who do not work in Switzerland. Whether it applies depends on the income and the person, and the US federal floor applies to a US citizen either way.

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, Moving to Switzerland from the US 2026: tax and the 10 addresses, patrician.ch/answers/moving-to-switzerland-from-the-us/, September 2026.

Ranked for a US passport

Switzerland's 10 addresses, for an American.

A single US citizen leaving New York, in the engine's order. The figure is the effective income tax on $1M with US federal tax included. New York on the same basis: 43% on $1M, 34% on $300K.

01
Zermatt 🇨🇭 Switzerland25% on $300K · Quota or discretionary for a US passport · 9h from New York · number 44 abroad
33%
02
Verbier 🇨🇭 Switzerland25% on $300K · Quota or discretionary for a US passport · 9h from New York · number 48 abroad
33%
03
Lucerne 🇨🇭 Switzerland25% on $300K · Quota or discretionary for a US passport · 9h from New York · number 55 abroad
33%
04
St. Moritz 🇨🇭 Switzerland25% on $300K · Quota or discretionary for a US passport · 9h from New York · number 59 abroad
33%
05
Montreux 🇨🇭 Switzerland25% on $300K · Quota or discretionary for a US passport · 9h from New York · number 60 abroad
36%
06
Lugano 🇨🇭 Switzerland25% on $300K · Quota or discretionary for a US passport · 9h from New York · number 63 abroad
33%
07
Gstaad 🇨🇭 Switzerland25% on $300K · Quota or discretionary for a US passport · 9h from New York · number 65 abroad
36%
08
Zurich 🇨🇭 Switzerland25% on $300K · Quota or discretionary for a US passport · 9h from New York · number 68 abroad
33%
09
Zug 🇨🇭 Switzerland25% on $300K · Quota or discretionary for a US passport · 9h from New York · number 71 abroad
33%
10
Geneva 🇨🇭 Switzerland25% on $300K · Quota or discretionary for a US passport · 9h from New York · number 74 abroad
36%

The route in.

EU and Swiss nationals register on arrival. Others use the lump sum taxation route, available in Valais for the non working wealthy, or an employer sponsored permit.

Income tax only, single filer, indicative 2026 headline rates, converted at the board's reference rates. The US taxes citizens on worldwide income and credits foreign income tax, so the model charges the higher of the local tax and the federal tax. The foreign earned income exclusion covers a capped slice of salary and none of the investment income, so it is left out. Published comparison research, not tax, legal or immigration advice.

Every place for a US passport: the best country for Americans to move to. Switzerland for any passport: Switzerland for high earners. Leaving New York: the US exit rules. Any income: the tax calculator.

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Questions

The short answers.

How much tax does an American pay in Switzerland?

On $1M of income, 33% in Zermatt with the US federal floor applied, against 43% in New York. On $300K, 25% against 34%.

The US taxes citizens wherever they live and credits foreign income tax, so the figure is the higher of the Switzerland tax and the federal tax.

What is the best place in Switzerland for an American?

Zermatt, number 44 of the 84 places outside the 50 states on the Patrician.ch engine's reading for a US citizen leaving New York on $1M.

Then Verbier, Lucerne and St. Moritz.

Can an American move to Switzerland?

Yes. For a US passport the route into Zermatt is a quota or discretionary permit.

EU and Swiss nationals register on arrival. Others use the lump sum taxation route, available in Valais for the non working wealthy, or an employer sponsored permit.

How far is Switzerland from New York?

About 9h by air from New York to the addresses on the board.

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The general case, ranked: Where should high earners live in 2026 · Best country to live in if you are rich · Best countries for high earners after tax · Europe · United States · Americans moving abroad · Tax calculator

Tax figures use a simplified marginal model with indicative 2026 brackets for a non-US single filer, ignore social contributions, most deductions, wealth taxes, and treaties, and are not advice. Residence rules change often. Verify before acting.

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