Zurich is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live[1], though I have fond memories of when I did my postdoc there. I lived downtown a block from the Hell's Angels, 4 blocks from where the junkies and hookers hung out, and it was still cleaner than most parts of San Francisco.
[1] https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=cost+of+living+index+z...
That is right but Zurich is tiny and almost everyone lives "in the suburbs" where the rents are half as much and which only means a 10-15 min commute[1] to town (using the superb public transport).
[1]"Living in the suburbs" anywhere else in the world but Switzerland means a >1h commute...
