Shared apartments, spare rooms and roommates in Zurich

Being able to share a flat by dividing the cost of monthly rent and utility bills is what allows many young people to afford to live in Zurich, due to the high cost of living that the capital of Switzerland has.

Many students from all over the world come to this city to enjoy the high quality of education at the University of Zurich and the Technical University of Zurich. Thanks to this, you can undoubtedly learn a lot from living with roommates of different nationalities, as well as become friends with them and have a good time in Zurich. 

Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Zurich

Here are some of the pros and cons of living in a shared flat in the Swiss capital:

Advantages of sharing a flat in Zurich 

• Its price is more affordable! It is the main advantage for a student's budget because the cost of full apartments is quite high.

• Living with roommates will allow you to make fun and affordable day-to-day plans, such as traditional food dinners from each country or even going for a walk around the city.

• Many of the shared apartments are in popular students neighbourhoods popular, such as Mühlebach, Alt-Wiedikon, Hottingen and Hochschulen.

Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Zurich

• The spare rooms available in residences are usually very limited, so you will most likely be placed on a waiting list. Also, some of the residences are located in very old buildings that do not have the best features.

• The climate in Zurich has low temperatures throughout the year, especially in the winter season. Ask your colleagues how the heating system of the apartment works and if the utility bills are included in the rental price, this information will help avoid any issues with its use.

Erasmus App for your exchange programme in Zurich 

In the Erasmus+ Apps, you will be able to carry out procedures and part of the necessary paperwork for your exchange in Zurich. You will also find useful information about the city and comments from students that help you save monthly, such as buying a bicycle to avoid the cost of public transport or taking advantage of the discounts that are made for students and with associations.

How to meet people in Zurich

In addition to sharing experiences with your flatmates, you can consider some of the following options:

Student associations in Zürich 

The preferred association for international students to meet people in Zürich is the ESN Zürich. Thanks to it, not only will you connect with young people from other careers and nationalities, but you will easily enter Swiss culture by being part of the activities and excursions that they offer.

Facebook groups for Erasmus in Zürich 

In the ESN Zürich Facebook group, you can meet people who are going to live there, and at the same time, you can answer questions about your stay in the city. In addition, you will have access to the calendar of activities planned by the association, which usually includes outdoor barbecues, board game nights, hiking and camping trips, and skiing weekends, among others.

Whatsapp groups for Erasmus in Zürich 

There are several Whatsapp groups created by students that you can join, as well as the Telegram group created by ESN Zürich. In these groups, you will be able to organize plans directly with other students who have the same interests, because one of the first things they do there is introduced themselves and share information about themselves.

Tips for living in a shared apartment in Zürich

We give you some tips for you to take into account:

• As a general rule, the further away you are from the centre, the cheaper the rent. Of course, try to calculate the transportation costs you will incur there, to compare the available accommodations and see which is the one that suits you.

• Would you like to go to the biggest outdoor techno rave party in Europe? If you are in Zurich in August you will be able to attend! It's called Streetparade and takes place mostly in boats taking rides on the city's lake, although later the party is moved to different neighbourhoods.

Frequently asked questions about sharing a flat in Zürich

Flat sharing in other Erasmus cities

Flatshare in Geneva

Flatshare in Basel

Flatshare in Lausanne