Zug, Switzerland
🇨🇭 Countries · current to September 2026

Switzerland, for a high earner.

10 addresses in Switzerland on the Patrician.ch board, ranked by what a $1M earner keeps. Zug leads at 20%.

In short, current to September 2026

  • On $1,000,000 of income, Zug keeps the most in Switzerland, $804K after an effective 20%. Geneva keeps $644K at 36%.
  • None of the 10 addresses in Switzerland taxes a resident's capital gains on listed securities.
  • A wealth tax applies at every address, top rate 0.22% to 0.90% of net assets a year.
  • Inheritance: Spouse and children exempt at 8 of the 10 addresses, children pay 5% or less in Lucerne and Montreux.
  • 9 of the 10 addresses offer a special regime for new arrivals. At Zug: Lump sum taxation is available in Zug, one of the 21 cantons that still offer it. The tax is set on a deemed spending base, at least 7 times the rent or rental value of the home, with a federal floor around CHF 435,000 for 2026 and a cantonal minimum on top. Zug ordinary rates are already the lowest in Switzerland, so run both before electing.

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, Switzerland for high earners 2026: 10 addresses ranked after tax, patrician.ch/countries/switzerland/, September 2026.

Ranked

10 addresses in Switzerland, by what a $1M earner keeps.

01
Zug 🇨🇭 Switzerlandkeeps $804K of $1M, gains 0%, safety 10 of 10, schools 8 of 10
20%
02
Zermatt 🇨🇭 Switzerlandkeeps $683K of $1M, gains 0%, safety 10 of 10, schools 5 of 10
32%
03
Verbier 🇨🇭 Switzerlandkeeps $683K of $1M, gains 0%, safety 10 of 10, schools 6 of 10
32%
04
Lucerne 🇨🇭 Switzerlandkeeps $683K of $1M, gains 0%, safety 10 of 10, schools 8 of 10
32%
05
St. Moritz 🇨🇭 Switzerlandkeeps $683K of $1M, gains 0%, safety 10 of 10, schools 6 of 10
32%
06
Lugano 🇨🇭 Switzerlandkeeps $683K of $1M, gains 0%, safety 9 of 10, schools 7 of 10
32%
07
Zurich 🇨🇭 Switzerlandkeeps $683K of $1M, gains 0%, safety 10 of 10, schools 9 of 10
32%
08
Montreux 🇨🇭 Switzerlandkeeps $644K of $1M, gains 0%, safety 10 of 10, schools 8 of 10
36%
09
Gstaad 🇨🇭 Switzerlandkeeps $644K of $1M, gains 0%, safety 10 of 10, schools 8 of 10
36%
10
Geneva 🇨🇭 Switzerlandkeeps $644K of $1M, gains 0%, safety 9 of 10, schools 9 of 10
36%
AddressTax on $1MKeptGainsWealth taxHeirsCost
Zug20%$804K0%0.22%Spouse and children exempt92
Zermatt32%$683K0%0.40%Spouse and children exempt120
Verbier32%$683K0%0.40%Spouse and children exempt118
Lucerne32%$683K0%0.30%Children pay 5% or less92
St. Moritz32%$683K0%0.30%Spouse and children exempt125
Lugano32%$683K0%0.30%Spouse and children exempt95
Zurich32%$683K0%0.65%Spouse and children exempt100
Montreux36%$644K0%0.80%Children pay 5% or less100
Gstaad36%$644K0%0.50%Spouse and children exempt120
Geneva36%$644K0%0.90%Spouse and children exempt104

Simplified marginal model, indicative 2026 brackets, non-US single filer. Wealth tax is the top rate. Cost is the Patrician.ch index where Zurich is 100.

Who gets in

The route into Switzerland.

EU and Swiss nationals register on arrival. Others need a quota permit or the lump sum route.

Founder & talent · 10 of 10Lump sum residence · 9 of 10

Switzerland's passport scores 70.8 on the Henley 2026 mobility index. All 65 passports, ranked.

The regime for new arrivals.

Zug. Lump sum taxation is available in Zug, one of the 21 cantons that still offer it. The tax is set on a deemed spending base, at least 7 times the rent or rental value of the home, with a federal floor around CHF 435,000 for 2026 and a cantonal minimum on top. Zug ordinary rates are already the lowest in Switzerland, so run both before electing

Zermatt. Lump sum taxation in the canton of Valais under Article 14 DBG, for foreign residents who do not work in Switzerland. The deemed base is the highest of the federal floor of 435,000 francs for 2026, 7 times your rent or imputed rental value, or your actual worldwide living costs, and Valais sets a higher cantonal minimum on top that is agreed case by case

Verbier. Lump sum taxation in the canton of Valais under Article 14 DBG, for foreign residents who do not work in Switzerland. The deemed base is the highest of the federal floor of 435,000 francs for 2026, 7 times your rent or imputed rental value, or your actual worldwide living costs, and Valais sets a higher cantonal minimum on top that is agreed case by case

Lucerne. Lump sum taxation available in the canton of Lucerne for non working foreign residents, and one of the lowest cantonal tax loads in Switzerland

St. Moritz. Lump sum taxation available in Graubünden for non working foreign residents, negotiated on living expenses rather than income

Lugano. Lump sum taxation available in Ticino for non working foreign residents, and the canton courts crypto and family office capital openly

Montreux. Lump sum taxation in the canton of Vaud under Article 14 DBG, the Riviera vaudoise has hosted it for a century. The deemed base is the highest of the federal floor of 435,000 francs for 2026, 7 times your rent or imputed rental value, or your actual worldwide living costs, and Vaud sets a higher cantonal minimum on top that is agreed case by case

Gstaad. Lump sum taxation in the canton of Bern under Article 14 DBG, for foreign residents who do not work in Switzerland. The deemed base is the highest of the federal floor of 435,000 francs for 2026, 7 times your rent or imputed rental value, or your actual worldwide living costs, and Bern sets a higher cantonal minimum on top that is agreed case by case

Geneva. Lump sum taxation is available in Geneva, on a deemed spending base of at least 7 times the rent or rental value of the home, with a federal floor around CHF 435,000 for 2026 and a higher cantonal minimum. No gainful activity in Switzerland, and not Swiss tax resident in the previous 10 years

Every regime for new arrivals, compared

Keep reading

Switzerland, head to head.

Zug vs ZurichHead to headZug vs GenevaHead to headZurich vs LucerneHead to headZurich vs LuganoHead to headZug vs LucerneHead to headGeneva vs MontreuxHead to headGeneva vs VerbierHead to headGeneva vs GstaadHead to headLugano vs St. MoritzHead to head

Leaving Zurich: the exit tax · Moving from Zurich · Lugano wealth tax · St. Moritz wealth tax · Zug wealth tax · Every country on the board · Glossary

Questions

The short answers.

Where should a high earner live in Switzerland?

On a $1,000,000 income, Zug keeps the most in Switzerland, $804K after 20% income tax. Zermatt follows at 32%, and Geneva keeps the least at 36%.

Ties on tax are broken by the Patrician.ch engine score at its default weights (safety, schools, sun, beauty, cost and ease of entry). Your own income and passports can reorder the list.

How much income tax does a $1M earner pay in Switzerland?

20% to 36% effective across the 10 addresses on the Patrician.ch 2026 model, single filer, before social contributions.

9 of the 10 addresses offer a special regime for new arrivals. At Zug: Lump sum taxation is available in Zug, one of the 21 cantons that still offer it. The tax is set on a deemed spending base, at least 7 times the rent or rental value of the home, with a federal floor around CHF 435,000 for 2026 and a cantonal minimum on top. Zug ordinary rates are already the lowest in Switzerland, so run both before electing.

Does Switzerland tax capital gains?

No. None of the 10 addresses in Switzerland taxes a resident's capital gains on listed securities.

Does Switzerland have a wealth tax?

Yes, at every address. The top rate runs 0.22% to 0.90% of net assets a year.

Ticino, about 0.3%.

Does Switzerland have an inheritance tax?

It depends on the address. Spouse and children exempt at 8 of the 10 addresses, children pay 5% or less in Lucerne and Montreux.

Source: Swiss Federal Tax Administration; Homburger, Nov 2025, current to September 2026.

How does a foreigner get residence in Switzerland?

EU and Swiss nationals register on arrival.

Others need a quota permit or the lump sum route. Routes that matter for money: Founder & talent, Lump sum residence.

Are millionaires moving to Switzerland?

Yes. Switzerland saw a net inflow of 3,000 millionaires in 2025 on the Henley Private Wealth Migration Report, against +1,500 in 2024.

That is a country figure, not a city one. Henley's 2026 report published no new flow estimates, so 2025 is the latest.

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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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