Area: 160.477 km² Residents: 38,111 (December 31, 2017) Population density: 237 E / km² Form of Government: Constitutional hereditary monarchy on a democratic-parliamentary basis Neighboring countries: Switzerland, Austria State capital: Vaduz National language: German Religions:
75.7% Roman Catholic,
7th % Protestant,
4.2% Muslim,
0.13% Jehovah’s Witnesses Currency: Swiss francs (CHF)
1 CHF = 100 cents Exchange rates:
1 EUR = 1.09 CHF
1 CHF = 0.92 EUR
1 CHF = 0.79 GBP
1 CHF = 120.47 JPY
1 CHF = 1.09 USD
(rate from 13.07.2021) Telephone area code: +423 Time zone: UTC + 1 CET
UTC + 2 CEST (March to Oct)
In 2020, 50 Germans officially emigrated to Liechtenstein and 37 came back to their homeland. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 642 Germans officially emigrated to Liechtenstein and 386 moved back to Germany. This landed this small country on the remarkable 3rd place on the satisfaction list of all emigration destinations. In 2020, 1,694 Germans were officially living in Liechtenstein.
Liechtenstein is the country with the highest gross domestic product per capita worldwide. There are good job opportunities for skilled workers. The principality is not a member of the EU. Joining the European Economic Area was trend-setting. This made Liechtenstein attractive as a financial center. Foreign banks were able to establish themselves in the principality, and the number of banks represented in Liechtenstein multiplied.
Labor market
Liechtenstein residents are among the top earners in Europe. Their wages are so high that despite the high cost of living they have the most money at their disposal in a European comparison.
The unemployment rate is very low at 1.8 percent (December 2020). The reason for this is that there are almost as many jobs in Liechtenstein as there are residents. The domestic labor reserves are exhausted. Almost half of all employees now come from neighboring countries (Austria, Switzerland and Germany). Some of them have the Liechtenstein pension in their sights. It is considered safe – in a country that has not experienced a recession since World War II.
According to countryvv, Liechtenstein lacks above all skilled workers, especially manual and technical professions. There are many jobs in the mechanical engineering, metal processing and plant engineering sectors, as well as at banks, trust companies, auditors and insurance companies. Often positions remain unfilled because the discrepancy between the requirements of the employer and the qualifications of the jobseeker is too great. Qualified applicants therefore have very good chances. Most of the jobs are in Vaduz, Schaan and Triesen.
More than half of all employees work in the financial services sector. Besides this, the industrial sector offers the most jobs.
Cost of living
84 percent of the residents of the Principality of Liechtenstein rate their economic situation as good or very good. Liechtenstein is one of the countries with the highest cost of living in Europe. Many residents go shopping in neighboring countries, especially Austria, to save money.
Rental prices in Vaduz are 38.93% higher than in Berlin
Restaurant prices in Vaduz are 90.61% higher than in Berlin
Food prices in Vaduz are 57.76% higher than in Berlin
Average cost of living in Vaduz (from 02/2020 – 01/2021)
Restaurant
Ø € Price
€ Price from / to
Food, price w. restaurant
22.80
19.98-22.80
Middle class, 3 courses for 2 people.
91.22
49.95-136.82
Local beer, 0.5 l
5.93
4.56 – 7.30
Imported beer, 0.33 l
6.39
–
cappuccino
4.56
4.56-4.56
Coca / Pepsi (0.33 l)
3.10
2.00-4.56
Water (0.33 l)
2.74
1.82-3.65
Food
Ø € Price
€ Price from / to
Milk (1 L)
1.56
1.30-1.82
White bread (500g)
2.97
–
Rice (white), (1kg)
1.82
–
Eggs (12)
6.56
4.00 – 9.12
Local cheese (1kg)
13.99
–
Chicken breast fillet (1kg)
9.37
8.31-10.53
Beef (1kg)
20.98
12.77-29.19
Apples (1kg)
2.60
–
Bananas (1kg)
3.37
–
Oranges (1kg)
3.97
3.37-4.56
Tomatoes (1kg)
4.10
–
Potatoes (1kg)
1.79
1.30-2.28
Onions (1kg)
1.82
–
Lettuce (1 head)
1.46
–
Water (1.5 l)
0.91
–
Bottle of wine (middle class)
11.34
8.99-13.68
Local beer (0.5 l)
1.91
1.54-2.28
Imported beer (0.33 l)
2.28
–
Average costs for local transport, utilities, clothing, free time in Vaduz (from 02/2020 – 01/2021)
Mode of Transport
Ø € Price
€ Price from / to
One-time ticket
4.79
4.10-5.47
Monthly pass
45.61
45.61-45.61
Taxi base amount
1.46
–
Taxi 1 km
0.94
0.91-0.96
Ancillary housing costs
Ø € Price
€ Price from / to
for 85 sqm apartment (electricity, water, garbage, etc.
178.82
83.99-273.65
1 minute prepaid mobile tariff
0.10
–
Internet (60 Mbps or more, unlimited data, cable / ADSL)
48.34
–
clothing
Ø € Price
€ Price from / to
Jeans (Levis 501 or similar)
88.91
–
Summer dress (Zara, H&M,…
37.96
–
Nike sports shoes, middle class
101.18
92.69-111.15
Leather business shoes
151.34
–
leisure time
Ø € Price
€ Price from / to
Fitness center, month / adult
68.41
–
Tennis, 1 hour on weekends
27.36
–
a movie ticket
19.16
10.95-27.36
training
Ø € Price
€ Price from / to
Preschool / Kindergarten, private, whole day, monthly per child
228.04
–
International primary school per year and child
18,243.18
–
Average rental prices in Vaduz (from 02/2020 – 01/2021)
Monthly rental price
Ø € Price
€ Price from / to
Apartment (1 bedroom) in the city center
1,368.40
–
Apartment (1 bedroom) outside the center
1,043.61
992.63-1094.59
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in the city center
2,331.78
2,280.40-2,383.16
Apartment (3 bedrooms) outside the center
1,781.31
1,282.22-2,280.40
Purchase price of apartments
Ø € Price
€ Price from / to
Price per square meter for an apartment in the city – purchase
4,195.93
–
Price per square meter – apartment outside the center – purchase
3,374.99
–
wages
Ø € Price
€ Price from / to
Average monthly salary (after taxes)
5,891.03
–
Emigration and living in Liechtenstein
A nice little travel destination and very good for retirement and work, if you are a really qualified worker. Due to the high salaries, there is still enough money left despite the high cost of living. In addition, you can shop more cheaply in neighboring countries. Some advantages of the country: high satisfaction of the immigrants, nuclear power-free, German language.
