Commuting from Zurich Suburbs & Nearby Towns

Zurich's housing market is difficult, and some students choose to live in the suburbs to ensure they find a place. With frequent trains and public transport, commuting from towns like Dietikon, Regensdorf, Winterthur, Baden, and Uster is common. This guide covers the best suburbs for students, rent price comparisons, and how long it takes to reach ETH Zurich and UZH from these areas.

Recent reports underscore how much you can save by living outside the city: housing just 10 minutes from central Zurich can be ~20% cheaper, and homes ~20 minutes out are about 30% less expensive Real Estate Focus 2024 - UBS. In fact, Zurich residents are increasingly moving out of the city due to sky-high rents. With that in mind, let's explore the best suburbs for students and how to manage the daily commute.

Popular Suburban Areas

Dietikon

Dietikon offers significantly cheaper rents than the city. The median rent for a small 2-room apartment in Dietikon is around CHF 1,650, compared to about CHF 2,200 in Zurich city. That's roughly 25%–30% lower rent for similar space. Larger flats show a similar trend (e.g. ~CHF 1,860 for a 3.5-room in Dietikon vs ~CHF 2,580 in Zurich).

The commute from Dietikon to Zürich HB takes around 12 minutes by direct S-Bahn train, making it one of the shortest and most convenient suburban commutes. From Zurich HB, ETH Zurich or UZH are just 5–10 minutes away by tram.

Regensdorf

Rent in Regensdorf is also lower than in downtown Zurich. For a 2-2.5 room apartment the median rent is ~CHF 1720 in Regensdorf, compared to ~CHF 2,200 in Zurich. You might find a student room or small flat here for around CHF 700–900 per month in a shared arrangement, which is easier on a student budget.

Regensdorf has a quiet residential atmosphere and and all the shops that you would need. However, with fewer students your social life will likely be in Zurich. The S6 train connects to Zurich every 30 minutes plus there is a bus connection. So every 15 mintues you can leave for Zurich.

Winterthur – A Student City Alternative

Winterthur is a larger town (actually the second-largest in Canton Zurich) about 25 km northeast of Zurich. Many students consider living in Winterthur because it has its own vibrant community from the ZHAW (Zurich University of Applied Sciences) campus and noticeably cheaper rents. Generally, rental costs in Winterthur are 20–30% lower than in Zurich. A typical 2-room flat averages ~CHF 1,590 in Winterthur,versus ~CHF 2,200 in Zurich. For shared student housing, you can find rooms in the CHF 500–800 range. You also tend to get more space for the same price in Winterthur.

Commuting from Winterthur to Zurich is very common and well-served by fast trains. InterCity and InterRegio trains connect Winterthur Hauptbahnhof to Zürich HB in as little as 19–22 minutes, running every 15 minutes or better. Slower S-Bahn trains (S11, S12) take ~30–35 minutes, but you'll rarely wait long for the next connection with over 200 train connections per day.

How long is the commute from Winterthur to ETH Zurich? From Winterthur HB, ~20 minutes by direct train to Zurich HB, then ~10 minutes by tram/bus (or a short walk) to ETH Zentrum – so roughly 30 minutes in total on the fastest connection, up to 40 minutes if you take an all-stops S-Bahn.

Winterthur itself offers a lively atmosphere with bars, cafes, museums, and its own old town so you get a bit of student life outside Zurich city. The downside is the last train back from Zurich at night is around 12:30am (on weekends there are Night S-Bahn services, but infrequent), so living in Winterthur might slightly limit very late outings in Zurich. Nonetheless, Winterthur is an excellent student-friendly city on its own, with better housing prices while still being under half an hour from Zurich by train.

Baden – Out-of-Canton but Quick Commute

Baden lies to the northwest in Canton Aargau, but it's only ~21 km from Zurich and direct intercity trains from Baden to Zürich HB run twice per hour and take just 15 minutes. (Slower S-Bahn options are around 30 minutes) Because it's outside Canton Zurich, you'd use a Z-Pass for the Aargau–Zurich regions when Z-Pass (see transport section) for the Aargau–Zurich regions when commuting.

Rents in Baden are lower than Zurich, though not as low as other commuter towns. For a 3.5-room flat the median price is ~CHF 1,990 in Baden vs. CHF 2,580 in Zurich. You can find student room sublets or WG (shared flat) rooms around CHF 600–800.

Baden is a charming historic town known for its thermal baths. It has bars, restaurants, and even a small casino. The ABB research center, some tech companies, and a campus of the University of Applied Sciences (FHNW) bring in some young people, though it doesn't have a major university campus. But still, with such a short train ride, many ETH/UZH students choose Baden for the balance of lower rent and a 15-minute commute. Just remember you'll be crossing a canton border daily – your residence permit and some admin will be in Aargau instead of Zurich, that's not an issue just something to keep in mind.

A point for the future is that to apply for a Swiss C permits you usually have to have stayed within the same canton for at least two years before applying (and been in Switzerland for a total of 5 years). That means if you move from Baden to Zurich after your studies that two year clock to apply for a C permit will start again.

One perk to to staying in Aargau (Baden) once you begin working in Switzerland is its slightly lower taxes and health insurance premiums than Zurich. As a student however this won't be noticable.

Uster – Family Town with Fast Train Link

Uster is a suburb to the east of Zurich, in the Zurich Oberland region. It's the third-largest city in the canton and primarily a residential town popular with families. Uster's appeal lies in its very short commute and moderate rents. The S-Bahn from Uster to Zürich HB takes only 14–19 minutes (trains every 15 minutes). This makes it as convenient as some Zurich city neighborhoods, commute-wise.

For rent, a 2.5-room apartment is around CHF 1,670 in Uster, vs CHF 2,200 in the city. Student WG rooms might be in the CHF 600–750 range.

Uster's vibe is suburban quiet and nature. There is a nice lake (Greifensee) and plenty of greenery around. You won't find the buzzing city life here, but basic shopping and cafes exist. For students who don't mind living in a calm community, want a quick train hop to Zurich, and love running and cycling Uster is ideal.

Train & Bus Passes (ZVV Info)

Zurich's public transport (ZVV) is zone-based. Suburban commuters typically buy a monthly ZVV NetworkPass, covering their home zone and Zurich city (zone 110).

1–2 zone pass: CHF 63/month (youth price, under 25).
3-zone pass (common for suburbs like Dietikon or Uster): CHF 93/month.
All zones pass (for long commutes like Winterthur or Baden): CHF 179/month.

Many students also get the Half-Fare Card - SBB (CHF 185/year), which gives 50% off all tickets, useful for those not buying a monthly pass.

Additionally, if you like to go out in Zurich in the evenings and return late to the suburb, note the Night GA card. This is a youth pass (under 25) that allows unlimited travel from 7pm to 5am on all networks Night GA - SBB. It costs about CHF 99 per year.

If you are choosing a commuter town based on costs, make sure to factor in these prices.

Pros & Cons of Suburban Living

Pros

Lower Rent: Student rooms in suburbs can be CHF 300–800/month cheaper than Zurich city.
Peace and Quiet: Less noise and more space compared to the city. Though if you come from a larger city Zurich even on busy days will feel peaceful.
Good Transport Links: Fast, frequent trains during the day mean easy access to Zurich campuses.

Cons

Commute Time: Adds 20–40 minutes daily, depending on location.
Late-Night Travel: Last regular trains leave around midnight; night buses run less frequently.
Less Student Housing Support: Most official student housing options (like WOKO) are in Zurich, meaning private rentals are more common.
Transport costs: The travel passes will be more expensive so if you are budgeting tightly you need to make sure you find a cheaper apartment to counter that. Though if you are choosing a commuter town just to ensure a place to start with, don't worry about the details too much!

Final Thoughts

Many students commute from suburbs like Dietikon, Regensdorf, Winterthur, and Baden to save money while staying within 30 minutes of Zurich HB. Or they use it as an achievable option when moving to Switzerland and move into the city later.

For more on affordable student housing, check out our Affordable Housing Guide. If you're budgeting for Zurich, read our Cost of Living Guide.