Quick answer: who is actually cheapest?
If you want the lowest tax bill in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, you have two top options: Urnäsch and Teufen. Both land at exactly 10.3% for a single earner on 80k (single_80k). The differences between them in other household scenarios are negligible. Right on their heels is a solid chase group: Wald, Herisau, and Waldstatt.
What you won't find here is a dramatic winner. The top of the canton is extremely competitive. It's a useful ranking for building a shortlist, but you aren't going to find a hidden tax haven that blows the neighboring towns out of the water.
The top five
Here is how the top five currently stack up:
- Urnäsch: 10.3%, 15.6%, 14.2%, multiplier 126
- Teufen: 10.3%, 15.7%, 14.2%, multiplier 127
- Wald: 10.4%, 15.8%, 14.3%, multiplier 128
- Herisau: 10.4%, 15.8%, 14.3%, multiplier 129
- Waldstatt: 10.4%, 15.8%, 14.3%, multiplier 129
If you're moving to the canton purely to save money, start your search here. But once you move past this top five, the rest of the canton remains so close in price that your decision really should pivot to the quality of the commute, the local schools, and the rent you'll be paying.
What the spread means
Take a look at the total spread across the entire canton:
- Singles: 10.3% to 10.9%
- Couples: 15.6% to 16.6%
- Families: 14.2% to 15.1%
That's a very tight band. Moving from one town to another inside Appenzell Ausserrhoden will change your tax bill, but it's going to be a minor adjustment compared to moving between cantons.
What to do with the ranking
Use this data to narrow down your options, not to make your final choice. If both Urnäsch and Teufen work for your commute, great—you know you're getting the best tax rate available. But if a slightly more expensive town like Herisau shaves thirty minutes off your daily drive, that tiny tax premium is almost certainly worth paying.
When the official calculator takes over
PLZHub is a great tool for a first pass. But before you sign a lease, you need to verify the math. Plug your specific salary and deductions into the official cantonal tax calculator to see exactly what you'll owe.
