Is Chf 1,800/month enough?

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1
Hello All,

I've been lurking through this forum for a couple of days, and thought that i'd throw in one of my own questions too! I've gathered some invaluable information from here already!

I've been accepted to a Masters program at Geneva with full scholarship (tuition exemption + living stipend of Chf 1,8000 for 10 months). That makes it Chf 1,800 per month. However, the rest of the two months won't be covered by my scholarship, and i plan on doing a paid internship during that while.

Now the question: Is Chf 1,800/month enough to live in a place like Geneva?

I'll be coming to Geneva this August. If it helps you analyze my situation a bit better, i am single, unmarried and wont be having any dependents with me. I would like to save some money though, to send back to my home-country, especially my mother.

Thanks!

Best.

2
Will you also be provided with subsidised (or free) accomodation?

3
No, i would have to cover accomodation + food + entertainment within the Chf 1,800! Though i am 22, i doubt i'd be spending too much on nights out, but i love to travel though!

4
Probably accomodation is going to be a bit of a problem with this sort of budget. I don't know if this information about cheaper accomodation will be any help. I've no idea how up-to-date it is but there are a couple of links on which you could also try.

Good luck and happy hunting.

5
You might also consider renting a room. Someone I know was doing an internship in Geneva and found a room in a very nice apartment with a very friendly landlady and two other tenants for CHf 800 a month, including use of the kitchen. Geneva is not cheap. I should imagine that you could manage on CHF 1800 a month although I shouldn't have thought that you will be able to save all that much.

6
A friend of mine found this site quite useful for finding a cheap flatshare:

http://www.wgzimmer.ch (chose language and press on Swiss flag)

The university might also have some accomodation you can apply for. I know Bern und Zürich Unis do.

1800 isn't much but I do know people who have survived on similar amounts in Zürich, so it should be possible.

trowel

7
Thanks alot everyone for the prompt replies. Much appreciated!

I exchanged an email with a friend of mine whose living in Geneva and studied at the same institute. She had this to say:

But to be honest, i am getting conflicting feedback on whether i would be able to cover it up with that money. Another friend of mine got Chf 15,00/month and she said that she broke-even with that amount.

As for housing, ive been suggested the following places: Cite Universitaire, Bulog - Bourse de Logemont, Glocals, and Cigue

8

Please understand that your stipend is designed to cover your living costs and some necessary expenses like stationery etc by Swiss standards. Depending on your previous lifestyle/country of origin, you can live a clean and healthy lifestyle for much less than 1800 by putting some extra effort.

Let's say you have some 3 hundred to spare after all expenses. Now how you spend it, on night outs, travel, (or may be a girl/boy friend down the line) or sending it to your mother, is a deeply personal matter. Unfortunately the forum is neither interested nor competent to dole advice in this aspect and you will continue to get "conflicting" feedback. It is just a reflection of your own dilemmas which only you can settle .

Congratulations on getting a position with full scholarship. Now make the best out of it.

Welcome to Switzerland and EF .

9
Is the 1800 after tax, AHV, etc? Will you have health insurance included or does that come out of 1800?

I manage to live quite comfortably on 2400 a month in Zurich. (I save the rest of my income) You probably wont be able to have your own place though

10
Hi Diesel,

Have you considered looking for accommodations in the outskirts of Geneva, like Nyon, as there might be more places available there. Flat-sharing seems to be your best bet w/ your budget and there was this thread sometime back with links to sites for this kind of set-up:

University student in Zurich

albeit about a student in Zurich. In the same thread are scenarios on what costs you might expect and here's a portion from Andrew1306's:

To summarize costs here, expect:

700-900/mt for a shared flat with 1-3 friends (a group I studied with pays 930 and we all thought they were crazy when they got it cause it was considered high).

Another 1-200Fr for health insurance

200Fr/Mt on lunches (take-out and cafeteria)

A weekend night out count 100-200fr (100 at a bar, 200 at a club)

Weekday night out at a bar about 50-100Fr (typical round will cost you 50Fr with a few friends)

So I usually spent about 1000Fr per month going out.

Food - take-away kebab about 10Fr, restaurant 30Fr (maybe 1x per week)

Groceries - count on 50Fr per week (Mmm, frozen pizza)

Skiing/snowboarding in the winter - about 500Fr/Mt (you are in CH after all!)

obviously, this is just an idea of possible costs. IMO it'll be extremely tough to save w/ that budget and send to your mom and do some sightseeing.

Oh, and you can also search: "Frugal Food" and "Eating Cheap" as there would be more inputs on saving on meals.

Good luck and welcome to EF!

11
I am always amazed at how creative students can be when it comes to shared living. 1800 might not sound much for Switzerland but you can make it stretch with careful living. I really don't think there will be much to send home to mum, though.

Try to share accomodation and food etc with other students if possible. That way you support and help each other and it should be possible but still very tight.

Good luck and enjoy Geneva!!

12
I took a student loan out to do my Masters in England (8,000 GBP) and then had jobs to finance the rest of my living so I find it interesting that you actually get money to do it.

13
I would say that quite a few folk are 'interested' enough to answer the OP's question. However, we are 'not competent' to 'dole out' advice in that, as Niranjan pointed out, there are too many 'unknown factors'.

From the above answers, from people with more experience in this area than I have, it looks as if 'one' can reasonably live on this sum. There IS cheap accomodation, but you have to find it. There are ways of keeping Illness and Accident Insurance premiums low. There are foods which are less expensive and ways to cook reasonably priced nourishing meals. Information about taking advantage of cheaper tickets on the public transport system is available. You'll find many useful hints on the Forum.

However, we know nothing of your lifestyle. It is should include 'luxuries' such as frequent theatre or concert visits, skiing at the weekends, extensive travelling including trips home, designer clothes, membership of a Fitness Centre, regular visits to a hairdressing salon etc. etc. and you want to save money too, you'll just have to list your priorities.

14
If you got a nice but cheap flatshare for 500chf per month then you would be left with 40chf per day each month. Thats pretty doable as even living as a professional in Zurich you can get by some days without spending a cent. I'm guessing if you go out you'll be hanging out with students so they will be cheaper nights too.

Just bear in mind that one nice evening meal out though will more than clean your daily budget and going out to a bar on a weekend can easily cost 100chf...........or even more.

Either way just seize the opportunity, move to Geneva and have a great time. Summer is almost here and the Summer Swiss Ladies are appearing again

15
I reckon that you can do it, providing you find a room in a shared appartment. I survived on 2,000 a month for a year in an 18sqm studio in Lausanne. Admittedly Geneva is slightly more expensive but I could do it comfortably so I'm sure you can manage. Good luck!

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Health insurance won't be covered by the 1,800 nor would i have to pay out of it. I'll get it arranged from my home country through AIG-New Hampshire. They have offices in Switzerland too. Plus, having a health-travel insurance is a requirement for a Swiss visa application.

True, there are alot of 'unknown factors' but i knew before coming here that advice here would mostly be general, and based on the poster's own experience. The advice seekers responsibility i reckoning is to filter the advice on his/her own!

Lets see if i can put things to perspective:

- My top preference is to get stellar grades in my masters, and then go ahead with my PhD.

-I'll mostly comfort myself in the library, with my head stuffed in a thick book.

- I would only be going out on weekends, if i ever do.

- I would prefer using a bicycle, instead of public transport.

- I won't really be joining a fitness centre, coz a daily jog in the park or an occassional match of squash would do it for me.

- I won't be visiting home for two years - the air ticket is too expensive!

- Expensive designer clothes? Not really

- Hair Salon? Yes, but only for a haircut, or a head massage. Nothing fancy!

- Travelling? a big YES!!

I hope the above helps!

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It's possible, I survived almost 2 years in Zurich on that salary - you get creative The experience is no question worth it. If you decide to come pm me and I will tell you the 200 ways to make pasta for less than 2 Chf \o/ (sorry to all italians that I just upset )

18
Here is breakdown of costs from University of Zurich, the rent is a bit optimistic so I would add another 100-200 for this. Also you may have to pay taxes on salary (may not be much though after deducting all expenses).

Study and living expenses for students

Living expenses depend very much on the individual student. These figures should therefore be regarded as a guideline only: (CHF)

Rent incl. heating 550

Additional expenses (telephone, internet, Billag [TV and radio license) 200

Meals 400

Health insurance, insurance 250

Travel 80

Clothing, laundry, personal items 70

Leisure, spending money 150

The expected minimum cost of living for students at the University of Zurich therefore comes to a total of CHF 1,700 per month.

Depending on the field of study, the cost of teaching materials comes to around CHF 50 - 150 per month.

*****************

Also, these student salaries are government or University felloships are fixed and not much can be done to change it. We all did manage on masters/PhD/postdoctoral fellowships, and my students seem to be just fine. Cut back on bar bills and you will manage OK.

Helps it helps.

19
My first flat in Basel was for 500 CHF. Students often live on 1000CHF.

So YES it is possible, but probably not very glamorus. Since it is only 10 months, I think you can survie it.

20
Most countries have scholarships - I got my masters fees paid in the UK and enough maintenance to just about live on in London. The trick is choosing a course that receives funding from something like www.esrc.ac.uk , www.epsrc.ac.uk etc.