The 26 cantons of Switzerland: map, capitals and languages

In Switzerland, the canton where you settle is as important as the country itself. Each of the 26 cantons has its own government, its own tax laws, its own educational system and its own cultural identity. Understanding this structure is essential before deciding where to live.

What is a canton?

A canton is the base territorial unit of the Swiss Confederation. It is equivalent to what would be an autonomous community in Spain, but with many more powers. The cantons existed before the Confederation: they were united by a mutual defense pact, not by central imposition. This explains why each one maintains so much autonomy.

Each canton has:

• Your own government (Conseil d'État / Regierungsrat) and cantonal parliament
• Your own laws and tax rates (cantonal + communal)
• Your public education system
• Your cantonal police
• Your own rules on residency procedures

The 26 cantons: complete table

Why does the canton where you live matter?

Taxes

It is the most important difference. The total tax burden varies drastically between cantons. A real example: a single person with CHF 80,000 gross annual salary pays approximately:

• Zug: ~12,000 CHF in total taxes
• Ginebra: ~22,000 CHF in total taxes

The same person, the same payroll, but almost double the taxes depending on where you live.

→ Read: How the source tax works

Medical insurance (LAMal premiums)

Compulsory insurance premiums also vary by canton and by region of the canton. The most expensive: Basel-City, Geneva, Vaud. The cheapest: Appenzell Inner Rhodes, Glarus, Nidwalden.

→ Read: LAMal health insurance

Education

The school system is completely in the hands of the cantons. The school calendar, the starting age of schooling, the subjects and the vocational guidance system vary between cantons.

→ Read: The Swiss education system

Residency and administration procedures

The registration of inhabitants, deadlines, forms available online and opening hours vary from one commune to another within each canton.

→ Read: How to register upon arrival

Cantons with outstanding particularities

• Zug: The canton with the lowest tax burden in the country. Headquarters of many multinationals and investment managers.
• Ginebra: International city, headquarters of the UN, the WHO and the Red Cross. High presence of international officials. Very high medical premiums and rents.
• Zurich: The most populated city and the main financial center. Very high standard of living but also the highest salaries in the country.
• Ticino: The Italian-speaking canton. Many border workers. Mediterranean climate and slightly lower cost of living in the north.
• Graubünden: The largest canton, trilingual (German, Romansh, Italian). Economy based on alpine tourism and agriculture.
• Berna: federal capital. Bilingual (German with French-speaking minority). Seat of parliament and the federal government.

Access the official portal of each canton