Moving to Lugano: costs process & districts

Lugano is divided into 21 quarters. Quarters 1 to 6 are the old city quarters, such as the Centro, Molino Nuovo north of the centre and Castagnola-Cassarate on the lake. Quarters 7 to 14 were separate municipalities until 2004: Breganzona, Cureggia, Davesco-Soragno, Gandria, Pambio-Noranco, Pazzallo, Pregassona and Viganello.

Barbengo, Carabbia and Villa Luganese were added in 2008, and Bogno, Cadro, Carona, Certara, Cimadera, Sonvico and Val Colla in 2013. Access varies accordingly: narrow lanes in the old town, denser development in Pregassona and Viganello, narrow mountain roads in Val Colla. For the move, the specific address is what counts – our home move service adapts to it.

After Zurich and Geneva, Lugano is Switzerland's third-largest financial centre. The Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), founded in 1996, has its headquarters here with faculties of communication sciences, economics and informatics. Around 150,000 people live in the agglomeration, which extends into the Italian provinces of Varese and Como. The official language is Italian.

We do not give specific rents; the price level in Switzerland is well above that in Germany, and payment is in francs. Besides the rent, budget for compulsory health insurance. If you are coming for a fixed start at work, fix the moving date early so that the parking permit and registration fit into the first eight days.

Many customers ask: what does my move cost? The answer depends on the size. 4-room flats start from €1,289, 3-room flats from €905. Smaller moves are cheaper: 2 rooms from €579 and 1 room from just €344. Larger properties such as houses or villas always receive an individual quote. For a long-distance move we charge from €3.90 per kilometre. The quickest way to find out your exact price is a free survey.

The price of your move depends mainly on the volume of your household and the distance between the two addresses – we calculate transparently from €3.90/km. The floor, whether there is a lift and any parking restriction zone needed also affect the costs. Additional services such as furniture assembly or a part load can change the price individually.

You can book these services for Lugano individually or together.

• Move with assembly – we assemble and dismantle your furniture properly: Move with assembly
• Clearance – proper disposal and clearance: Clearance
• Company relocation – a smooth move for your business: Company relocation
• Home move – your home move in the best hands: Home move
• Part load – save with our part load option: Part load
• Furniture transport – professional transport for your furnishings: Furniture transport

We plan moves from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) for private and business customers. The locations overview lists places with their own pages, and details on long routes are under long-distance moves. We also plan moves in the opposite direction, to Berlin, with a survey and a fixed price.

For a move in Lugano, for example in the Centro Storico or in Molino Nuovo, you need a permit from the city police if the removal van occupies public ground. According to the Città di Lugano's online counter, the request "Occupazione area pubblica per lavori di breve durata o traslochi" (use of public space for short-term works or moves) is made digitally via an eGov account. The permit is issued by the Polizia. It is only temporary and applies exclusively to the operation stated in the application.

The deadline is important: the request must be submitted at least 7 days before the start, and the system does not allow shorter deadlines. Optionally you upload a photo or plan of the area (up to 5 files, 5 MB each). The city lists the following cost items, which vary depending on the application:

• Administrative fee: CHF 70
• Use of parking spaces: CHF 10 per space per day
• Signage by the police: from CHF 100
• Sign hire: CHF 5 per sign per day

Payment is possible online or by invoice. The Polizia (Edilizia e cantieri) answers queries on +41 58 866 80 34. General notes on the process can be found in our guide to the parking restriction zone; how we clarify access and carrying distances during the survey is described in the long-distance move guide for Lugano.

In Lugano, according to the city, you register within 8 days of arrival. This is done in person (or with a power of attorney) at the Puntocittà counter, Via della Posta 8; for families, one adult member is enough. The page does not mention online registration. Among other things, a valid passport or ID and the tenancy agreement are required, and for foreign nationals also the residence permit or the substitute confirmation from the migration office. Health insurance (LAMal) or an exemption from it is also among the supplementary documents.

When crossing the border from Germany, removal goods are a matter for Swiss customs (BAZG). Its website names the transfer of residence to Switzerland as the most important condition for duty-free import. The items must have been used personally for at least six months. For customs you submit form 18.44. If you submit in advance, send the documents at least two working days before crossing the border; this preliminary check is only available at the Mendrisiotto (Stabio-Confine), Vedeggio and Chiasso-Strada customs offices.

The BAZG provides a "Liste Übersiedlungsgut" (list of removal goods) for the inventory of your belongings. Plan registration for the week you move in so that the deadline does not get tight, and keep the IDs and tenancy agreement of all family members to hand instead of packing them in the removal van. Read more about planning in our article Long-distance move to Switzerland and in the living in Lugano guide.