London vs Zurich for a high earner: tax, residence, cost, and life compared

	London	Zurich
Effective tax at $300K	37%	20%
Effective tax at $1M	43%	32%
Effective tax at $3M	44%	37%
Kept at $1M	$574K	$683K
Capital gains	24%	0%
Cost index (Zurich 100)	96	100
Safety	7/10	10/10
Schools	10/10	9/10
Sun hours	1,630	1,560
Supercar street index	#11	#36
Routes in	Founder & talent	Lump sum residence, Founder & talent
Net millionaire inflow 2025 (country, Henley)	−16,500	+3,000
Flight London	Home	2
Flight New York	7.8	8.7

Simplified marginal model, indicative 2026 brackets, non-US single filer, no social contributions, deductions, wealth taxes, or treaties.

Verdicts

Who should pick which.

For an executive on salary

Zurich keeps more of a $1M salary, $108K a year on this model. London answers with schools.

For a founder with an exit

Capital gains: London 24%, Zurich 0%. The order of operations, move then sell or sell then move, decides more than the rate. Neither city taxes wealth as such.

For a family

London leads on schools, a lower cost and sun, Zurich on safety.

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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.