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Originally Posted by UglyAmerican4NewStart
Thanks Paul for this post as I am trying to learn all I can about living in Zurich from those that are actually doing it now. Still can't figure out any comparisons for cost of living for when they ask me what I want salary-wise. Any suggestions anyone?
I was actually contacted by a recruiting company in the UK (Coda IT) for a position in IT at the major banking company there in Zurich. Elan contacted me too about the same posting. I don't have an offer or anything, just the phone interview (which is amazing in and of itself being in US now). I do use JobServe.com and find it very good for postings in Europe and even APAC. I live in the Midwest in America and would love to come to Zurich (irregardless of the massive increase in cost of living). As a single guy in my early 30's, Switzerland (Zurich in particular) would be a wonderful opportunity not to mention the job itself would be awesome. Any more thoughts or comments on living in Zurich? Thanks again!
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Hi Happy to help. The following relates to Zurich.
Ok as a consultant you can make 20,000-28,000 CHF a month rates for contractors seem to be about that for skilled persons, the exchange rate is 1.1 to the america dollar at the moment you will be stopped about 30 per cent of your salary 10 percent tax or so, it varies canton to canton, Zug 6/8 pcent is the cheapest, after that you have various costs and pensions 10 percent you get back, and insurances - including one if you loose your job ALV, if you are in the swiss system earning a salary and paying taxes for any period of 12 months in an 18 month window you qualify for your salary being paid for one to two years without you working this means that you get 8300chf per month capped as the max salary, after taxes you get about 6,600 chf per month for this amount, which is a great fail safe to have, you have to prove that you are looking for work and report progress every month but this means youll never fall into poverty or anything I suppose. I mentioned this because I thought that was a really great and unusual benefit. I have never used it and I dont know anyone that has but it is there apparently.
The job market is great if you are highly skilled I have worked at major swiss banks financial institutions and also infrastructure companies. I have been here 3 years and have never been out of work its easy to hop from company to company. Its harder to get here from the states, a lot of people do it on a secondment from a swiss-Us firms as there are permits so you could go work for a big firm in the states and apply on the internal websites etc. Whilst some things will be much better here other things you will find a huge culture shock.
1. It is ultra ultra right wing here and a police state. You constantly have to show papers transport passes, IDs everything. If feels a little in your face to be honest, - it is an absolute business and generates millions you get fined for everything.
2. You need to be very good at administration, pay bills on time, there is a lot of paper work, lots or rules and you are always sent the long way around so sorting things out takes time. Should you not do this you get an invite to the town hall office to pay a missed bill, if you dont comply and go when you are supposed to, the police will come and find you even at your work place, and take you there, then you get more fines and have to pay for the police time, there is no fat on the system here there is a really high financial disapline is expected.
3. You will never have a wonderful home here not like in the states, it will be a rented apartment which is a negative. Real estate seems to begin at 1.2 million and its pretty crappy at that to be honest. If you want a dream home you will not get that until about 4 million chf in or about the city and that would compare to a 350K home in the states. Everyone rents and the state owns all the property you do better on your taxes if you have a home and its cheaper in payments when renting but you need big deposits to buy. The Real estate market is crappy, homes stay on the market for years, you look at it and think what how much for that, what a load of crap.
4. People are really different they can be a bit of a cold fish bunch over here and the spoken voice of the language is completley grating, getting home and putting the tv on and listening to the BBC or JAY LENO feels like sanctuary, but you will meet lots of expats from UK and the US and they are always good fun and socialize in irish pubs. People are always hooking up to go skiing etc. I speak fluent german and swiss but would you really want to listen to something like this...
I have writen this as it actually sounds not as it is spelt for a bit of comedy but it is so grating and annoying to listen to it and I speak fluently.
ICH VEIS DAS NOOT
verstaaaassss Noot.
5. Summers are hot but it is mostly very grey and rainy for the rest of the year, there are lots of industrial buildings and apartment blocks, nothing is really beautiful interms of apartments or homes although there is nice infrastructure in the city for the old buildings etc. If you live further away homes are cheaper, but then the commute is longer.
6. cost of living here is very high.
7. On paper its perfect but having been here a longer time, when you look around noone really interacts with each other much, I dont see people walking around and smiling alot. I suppose thats quite germanic. there is friendly banter enough in the workplace though.
8. the main employers here are zurich financial, UBS, Credit Suisse, Alstom..I worked for all of them, plus nestle, and PharmC companies, Swiss RE. HP, Google, IBM... the list goes on.
9. Getting out of the city and getting around europe is a major plus you get a lot more holidays here, south of france is near by.
10. the trains and trams and transport here must be the envy of the world its really great.
I read things are not great job wise and economy in the states... a lot of europeans that have had properties for several years have made so much money in equity there is a property frenzy here, a lot though have made 500K sterling to 600K sterling and are selling up and are wanting to change into the dollars and go to the states. Buy big homes cash and have money behind them for a better lifestyle. Maybe try coming over for a couple of years have an adventure and make some cash and go back to the states with a swiss miss. lol.
I am staying for a bit longer but after I am either going back to S. of France and will work in monaco and live in my home close by or I am going to go to the states with a bit of pocket money or back to UK. I cant see me spending time here indefinatley you miss english and american type things to much the humour the smiles and the mentality.
oh forgot you can get by easy speaking just english. I dont think there is anyone here that cant speak english. But you get major brownie points and a better intergration if you can speak high german, all swiss speak german the swiss language is a dialect of german you would have to learn german first before speaking swiss it would be just too difficult to learn swiss straight off.
Good luck if you need help drop me a line.
Girls are quite funny here. I went out and noticed the clubs were a bit like a morgue in terms of people seemed reserved and segragated in there little groups, but if you have a bit about you and a sense of humour you can bring them out of there shells and have some fun and make friends. My first week here I will never forget. I took a beer mat ripped it stuck it on my nose walked up the prettiest girl I could see and said excuse me did you just throw that. I think they appreciate someone that is quite fun and a bit chipper.
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