How much would you pay for year-round parking? 50, 200 or 700 francs? According to a new study from Comparis, some drivers in Switzerland are paying 960 francs a year for a parking permit, while others are paying just 20.

Which Swiss city has the cheapest parking?

In their analysis of parking costs in the 40 largest cities, Comparis found that people in western Switzerland pay significantly less than those in the east. The cheapest annual parking can be found in La Chaux-de-Fonds in Canton Neuchâtel, where a parking pass costs just 20 francs a year.

Geneva, Lancy, Meyrin and Vernier followed in joint second with annual parking costs of 200 francs a year. For those interested, the cheapest parking in German-speaking Switzerland can be found in Thun, Canton Bern, where locals pay 220 francs a year for a pass.

Parking costs highest in German-speaking Switzerland

By contrast, the most expensive parking can be found in Wetzikon, Canton Zurich. Someone wanting a parking pass for the capital of the Zurich Oberland will have to shell out 960 francs a year.

The other more expensive parking spaces can be found in German-speaking Switzerland, with Zug taking second place with 720 francs a year. Winterthur (710 francs a year), Wil, Lucerne, Kriens and Chur (600 francs) completed the higher echelons.

Why do parking costs vary so much?

Writing in the report, Comparis expert Adi Kolecic noted that "the cheapest permanent parking cards are often found in cities where taxes are high, i.e. more in French-speaking Switzerland." He added that “high fees are often found in municipalities with a strong financial capacity”, namely those where incomes are higher.

However, he also countered accusations that parking fees rise the more left-leaning and green parties are in local government - groups which are typically associated with pro-cycling and public transport policies. In the cheapest city for parking La Chaux-de-Fonds, left-wing and green parties make up 64 percent of the municipal parliament, compared to just 36 percent in the most expensive city Wetzikon.

Instead, he argued that "the prices of permanent parking cards depend less on the political colour of a city than on the economic conditions." He concluded that the cost of parking has been increasing nationwide in recent years, and should continue to rise in the future due to declining supply and rising demand.

The Swiss cities with the cheapest and priciest parking

In all, here are the Swiss cities with the cheapest parking costs (in Swiss francs a year)

1. La Chaux-de-Fonds (20)
2. Geneva, Lancy, Meyrin, Vernier (200)
3. Thun (220)
4. Neuchâtel (240)
5. Bern (264)
6. Montreux, Zurich, Sitten (300)
7. Biel / Beinne (330)
8. Basel (332 for small cars)
9. Yverdon-les-Bains (340)
10. Emmen (350)

And here are the 10 cities with the most expensive parking costs:

1. Wetzikon (960)
2. Zug (720)
3. Winterthur (710)
4. Wil, Lucerne, Kreins, Chur (600)
5. Wädenswil (540)
6. Lausanne, Dübendorf (500)
7. Bülach (495)
8. Bellinzona, Uster, St. Gallen, Lugano, Dietikon (480)
9. Fribourg (396)
10. Frauenfeld (390)

For more information, check out the Comparis website.