I didn't think so...

However, apparently the IRS 2010 housing exclusion (generally speaking, this is the max amount that you are allowed to deduct for your housing/utilities costs) for those living in the city of Bern is USD 61'800 a year. That's an equivalent of USD 5'150 per month! In comparison, the max value for the city of Zurich is only USD 39'219. For the rest of Switzerland (excl Geneva which has a high value of USD 84'900), the yearly max exclusion is just USD 32'900.

Or is there a better explanation for this? I thought the housing exclusion table is supposed to correspond to the cost of housing in the particular cities.

maybe there are more politicians/diplomats in Bern and they exerted influence over the law to benefit themselves?

could be, but I thought that official US government employees abroad have special tax treatment anyways, so may not need this housing exclusion thing?

Maybe I should consider moving to Bern... have a GA already and one-hour a way commute to Zurich seems plausible

Tax is way higher, so may not be much in it.