I have two job offers, one from Switzerland (~ 100 k CH) close to Baden, the second is from a company in VA, USA (~ 70 K $ US) and I need to make a decision so soon.
I have no idea about cost of living in Switzerland, any help from people who moved from US to Switzerland.
my question is how much is 70 K $ US in suburb VA compared to CH in terms of cost of living and how much could one save a side ?!
Do u think it is worth it moving there or life there is ridiculously expensive compared to the 70 K in suburb VA.
Not an American ( only a humble USGC holder ), I think you'd be better off in VA. CHF100K pa is a bit of a stretch in Switzerland ( which is the correct name of the country ) for a sole breadwinner with a family.
How old are the children, and how far will you be away from supportive family and friends?
The cost of childcare is exorbitant. If you have small children, and your family are closer to the US, then I'd choose there. If you have older children and family closer to Europe, then I'd consider it...
The quality of life, safety, small-town feel of Switzerland we love for the sake of our children who are aged from 11 to 3 years now...but the cost of childcare, lack of support being halfway around the world from our family, and the sheer cost of us doing a 'trip home' (5 x $2000), and it means that we have to be well set-up with full day schooling, babysitters, cleaning lady, close to public transport....
We also live without a car, and in an apartment. Both are not-negotiable. And it's a long term proposition...we aren't going home until our debts are paid off and we can come out in front financially, which may not happen until our children leave home...
100,000.-chf. for a family of 4 here is doable (depending on needs) but it wont give you bragging rights. Besides if money is the only thing you're interested in from Switzerland than you'll probably be a lot happier with 70 grand in Virginia.
Forget about it. 100K here is barely enough if you are single. Add to it the various issues you and kids will go through culturally, it is a no win situation for you, unless there is opportunity for a quick and large increase in salary, bonus, or your wife will work.
VA subs are not a bad place to be. Close to DC, Baltimore, coast.
Thanks for reply, my long comparison chart is long, my career choice is to go to Switzerland but I do not want to jeopardize my family's lifestyle because of selfish me.
How about taxes, I hear taxes are lower than those in US ?. on average it is 30% here.
Research the forum, 100's of hreads on the topic. If you are debt free You will be able to live decently on 100k chf if he professional opportunity is good and you value the experience to live abroad, travel, live another culture, maybe learn a language.
BUT your money will get far less farther than 70k in VA suburbia. You will be confined to a small (but comfortable, modern - not in a bad neighborhood) flat, probably without a garden, if ery lucky a house but far away from town (and difficult to find one for your budget). You will have to be disciplined about expenses and have little money left for travel or saving. But you'll be able to live no doubt (we've done it with 3 kids - 130k but debt to bring it to less thabk 100k - and where happy and confortable, living in a middle of a village a very nice 'nrighborhood' life for he kids with many friends, etc, marke and shops next door, very different from the suburbia life in a large house we had before and loved it - tho I missed my garage, garden, etc, kids and wife where very happy). 1 car, limited meat, shopping carefully, etc.
Weight it beyond the monetary, but knowing the monetary is tight.
House rents are very expensive. This is probably one of the biggest differences between the cost of living in North America vs CH . I just got a simple one bed room in Lausanne at a price that I would have paid in Manhattan.
As for the 100k ... it is doable, but I would not put myself through it if I didnt have to. I would say once you are fully integrated and know your way around, then 100k in CH might get you close to a similar standard of living as 70k in US, but I would not underestimate the time it takes to integrate (i.e. lower your cost of living from that of an unknowing expat / foreigner to that of a savy local). Having said that, I must admit this forum will help tremendously
Good luck in your decision. And, by the way, you will find a whole lot of info on this topic if you search through the forum.
Research thr forums for costs, taxes much lower but everything else higher. Is yourbwife willing to be with kids all day? On that salary we had he little one going to childcare 2 mornings per week, not more - your older one I think would not start kindergarten next year so its one more year fully st home.
From a 'jeopordize' family lifestyle... Who knows if it will be like that. Will be a different experience And might be positive, good for them. My wife is gery happy about coming even with 2 years of smaller house, very limted budget (thankfully both over now!). As mentioned higs can be very expensive - day to day 'stuff' you buy in the US, here you will have a much simpler life and much less things from a consumism point of view. Health insurance we pay about 700chf per month for 3 kids and us. See comparis.ch.
Cars are expensive to own and service. We pay more than 200 chf per month on tax, insurance and parking. Then gas much higher than US. Service... Thr mehanic is earning also well so you pay thrm well. Plus worlds best public transport system, then you understand why many expats go down from several cars to one or none.
Keep in mind you'll find many perspectives here. The expat with a relocation package and a fat salary, the single who parties and travels all year and complains 150k is not enough, and the normal people who manages by with a family and sacrifices and appreciates the other wonderful advantages of this country. Remember most swiss - and many, if not most Swiss families - live on less than 100k chf per year. I think it's about average for an experienced person.
Anyway, again, search the forum. 100's of discussions like this.
If you're used to space, you'll feel confined here.
If you're used to freedom within your own walls, you'll feel imprisoned here.
If you have no local language skills, you'll feel lost here.
If you're on a limited budget, you may feel poorer here.
If you enjoy bending the rules, you'll feel strapped in here.
If you have no friends here, you'll feel lonely here.
Switzerland is a dynamic, safe and beautiful country. But it's not the USA.
If you don't mind living in a 3 bedroom apartment, following apartment rules, paying more for many things that are cheaper in the US, making new English speaking friends and living among locals who speak a different language, than it may indeed be worth the adventure.
My advice is to look through the numerous threads on this site about cost of living, housing, language problems, salaries, tax, work permits for non-EU citizens etc.
Without knowing what sort of job you would be doing and your future prospects and plans it is almost impossible to know what would be the advantages of moving to Switzerland.
If you are getting a generous relocation package and have enough savings to get furniture, electrical appliances as well as a cheap car you should be ok though I don't think you will be getting much left over for savings.
Thanks a ton, my wife would like to find a job later after we settle.
You made it with 2 kids, that's an encouragement here Yay.
We are not into fancy living or partying, not at all expected to travel a lot, but I do not want to go back to US after 3 years with zero savings ( would like to have some down payment for a house or so )
So if you put a vage factor for grocery at US & CH would it be 1:4 ?! (again simple living, not fancy stuff )
It's very difficult for a mother to find a job here, even for local mothers. Daycare is expensive. Private schools are expensive. Local schools are good but the hours are erratic. Children walk home for lunch. Lots of holidays. Lots of afternoons off (including EVERY Wednesday afternoon.) I managed to find an evening job two days a week but it was a case of being at the right place at the right time and I'm Swiss so no hassle with permits.