In the canton of Vaud (VD) you do not count the kitchen (even if big enough to eat in) nor the bathroom. From memory, Geneva (GE) does count the kitchen.
The 1/2 piece often means a large entry way, hall way or a small "room" that could be used but is not large enough to call a bedroom.
Not sure as the previous poster mentioned it would include a larger living room (salon) but the rental agencies are ready to do anything.
From the VD website:
Dans le canton de Vaud le nombre de pièces indiqué dans une annonce ne comprend pas la cuisine, souvent habitable, ni la salle de bain. Un deux pièces, par exemple, consiste en un appartement avec une chambre, un salon, une salle de bain et une cuisine. Une demi-pièce désigne souvent un hall ou une petite pièce habitable.
You can also get an idea of the size of the apt. by the number of m2. Since you are coming from North America, a rough calculation for square ft. is to multiply by 11.
Like was said, you'll get much less snow in Lausanne than you do in Boston and your commutes won't be bogged down by nasty weather for months sans fin!
In this case, it's only Geneva that is the odd one out.
An American king is most likely out of the question. But again, we don't know what kind of apartment you'll have. As was also said above, it might not even be the apartment size but how are you going to get the stuff in the building? You'll have a hard time finding bedding to fit it. But you can always just bring 3/4 sets with you. How many sets of sheets does one need really?
On your salary, spending even up to 10K at Ikea isn't going to kill you.
Check out Ikea.ch for prices. Perhaps you could plan to buy the bed, wardrobes (no closets by the way), sofa, etc in Switzerland (at Ikea or somewhere else). Then maybe buy smaller items in the states that go with the big stuff; drawers, coffee tables, all your non-electric kitchen stuff, TV (make sure it's multi system or else forget it), etc.
Unless you can get the apartment and then have your shipment go out afterwards. That's not a bad question to ask your relocation people.
You can rent furniture until you get your stuff and BTW, Ikea delivers.
And don't forget there ARE other places to buy stuff besides Ikea, you can rent little vans with Mobility car sharing & if you want real wood stuff there are thrift store equivalents that have nice things.
Most of the new TVs are working in the range of 110-240 V in US now. If that's the case you just need a simple adapter for 4-7 CHF to have your TV work in Switzerland. Otherwise you will need a translator from 220 V to 110 V which was around 30-50 USD in New York in my last visit. In any case it will work But you can also buy a new one here, TVs are incredibly cheap nowadays. Check this website:
I know many people who have had the same opportunity, listen carefully, bring your stuff with you, even if you have a good salary, the prices for furniture is crazy, and the quality is no where compared to the USA, im from NEW York and I know, also lived here for 10 years , Six in lausanne,
Lausanne is pretty expensive but dont worry, you have a good salary, you might beable to find a two bedroom for 800 to 1100 US dollars, which will most likely be better than anywhere in the US, try to find an apartment at the top of lausaane where you can have a view of the lake,, good luck at your new job
Kudos to you! I live in Boston right now and will be moving to Zurich in January once I finish my Masters with my fiancee who is starting his PhD at ETH. Good luck with the move! Zurich seems like a good transition from Boston.
Hi! I moved to Vaud from MA last year. I stayed across the lake in France for the first week and bought all my most significant pieces of furniture in France. The store delivered for me and I had everything I absolutely needed for my first night in CH.
Furniture in France, in my mind, is often nicer and more reasonably priced, while still fitting the ambiance and scale of Swiss living quarters.
Good luck! I'll be in Boston in a few weeks to say hi to folks there. But I'm enjoying my Euro style apartment!
As other have said rent is going to be a lot more expensive than listed. It will depend alot upon the quality of the apartment whether it has a lift etc as well. But to give you an example a new 3 bedroom apartment about 20 to 25 minutes walk from the center cost him 2900 CHF a month. My first two bed apartment cost me 1350 a month which was seen as being very good value while friends got nicer apartments higher up for 1600 a month but that was about 4 years ago and prices have gone up a reasonable amount. I would budget 1800 to 2400 and you will more or less be right.