I am a 28 year old male from Belgium. Single, no kids.
I am currently earning €2000,- NET. I am a Marketing Executive with 3 years experience. Would be my second job after starting in Belgium.
I have been offered 60K CHF Gross, did some research and calculations and expect it to be 4000 CHF net per month. Apparently less than 10 % make less than 4000 CHF and this seems the be the average salary.
I want to rent a one bedroom apartment, I do not need a car, mobile phone, health insurance, metro card, gym, eating out once a week.
My questions:
1) Is this a good salary for my position and what is the Belgium equivalent?
2) What are the salaries for ̈unskilled jobs ̈ such as a McDonald worker or basic job like a Call Center Agent? It will make it easier for me to put it in perspective.
Depends on the area, it's a nice enough salary for the first years of work after having studied economics and stuff like that, and comfortable to live with.
PhD students also make 4k a month.
Call center agents can go down to 3500, or even 3000 but i don't know if net or gross and it's often subject to salary dumping which is common in border areas.
The OP will be earning CHF 5'000 gross per month, or CHF 60'000 gross per year. This salary is adequate for most areas of Switzerland, although living will be more difficult if in Geneva or Zurich. For comparison, Aldi Suisse pays a a gross minimum of annual salary of CHF 54'600 to 61'022, depending on the region:
The lowest wages in the hotel industry are around 3300 sfr gross per month for
a cleaner/dish washer.
The lowest wages per hour hover around 18-20 sfr gross.
You will around 2000 sfr to cover your monthly costs, but that will be pretty tight(no eating out), depends on your rent of the flat, health insurance, internet connection, fees for electricity/water/billag.
There is no need to have a tv or a car, get a prepaid simcard (best get a phone with 2 simcards if you travel around).
To travel around cheap get a half tax card and buy "sparbillets", so you can travel for example from Basel to Zurich for around 7-8.50sfr each way.
It's very good in comparison to your Belgian salary and whilst you won't be living in luxury you'll be able to have a reasonable lifestyle as a single guy on that salary.
Not sure it's the right forum to ask, many here seem to think anything below 120k is basically poverty
4000 NET is fine. I'm actually not sure how you got to that amount as it's likely going to be more after taxes. 60k p.a. is about the average salary in Switzerland, actually a bit higher even, and with 3 years of experience, it sounds about right, though I admittedly don't know what a "Marketing Executive" is or does exactly.
You have no choice re healthcare, it's mandatory. You can, however, choose your coverage and deductible.
I'm also not sure how you're planning to move about without a car and - as per your list of things you don't need - without a metro card. You will need something. Switzerland may be small, but it's not THAT small and you will likely have to commute from your home to work, however short that may be. So for that you will need to spend money on public transportation as I guess chances that you get an apartment in walking distance to your job are probably pretty slim just about anywhere. The cost for public transportation is very low compared to most countries (despite constant complaints to the contrary) - you can e.g. get a monthly ticket for all of Basel and surroundings for less than CHF 80/month (not sure where you'd end up, but just to give you an idea).
You won't live in luxury, but most people don't, and I doubt you live in luxury in Belgium on that salary either, so as said, all sounds about right.
Just FYI, my ex for instance earns about that amount and has enough money for a car, regular dining out and partying, plus going on vacation twice a year (at least once overseas)
the salary is the same given local purchasing power € or CHF. You would not save much, but you certainly would not be broke. The main issue, is that you would have to accept a massive drop in food quality compared to Brussels....
Groceries, rent are probably double the price. €200 a month groceries becomes CHF400. €600 rent becomes CHF1200 or probably a bit higher.
Why you would want to move to Switzerland to earn the same realisable money is the question to ask.