Regarding jobs: The level of unemployment is very similar in Norway and Switzerland.
Well, there are higher mountains for skiing in Switzerland. On the other hand, there are a lot more real nature without a train to every top.
Unless you find a difference of average temperature in December og 10 degrees and 6 vs 4 hours of daylight not to make a difference, Stavanger vs Trondheim makes a big difference. Comming from stavanger, i didn't know how to wall on ice, when i moved to trondheim to study.
Bergen and stavanger is a lot hotter in winter due to the golfstream, so if you worry about cold winter, it night be worth considering.
Being a Norwegian living in Zürich, I have a couple of comments.
- norwegians are more egalitarin than swiss people. At least in zürich people generally don't care about your choices. Norwegians rather want you to do as them.
- There are less difference between sexes in Norway, and very few women that stays home fulltime. Cheap nursery / kindergarten. We pay six times a much here.
- You pay more tax in Norway, probably around 36 precent if you work in it, but this also includes healthinsurance.
- The work day is shorter in Norway, you are exected to work 40 hours a week, if you work more you either get compensated by time of or pay. Howerer, you are not expected to work more.
- if you want to own your own flat / house this is probably more realistic in Norway, because the prices are more reasonable, and you can get a mortage covering almost the full cost.
- the primary schools are better in switzerland unless you are below average intelligence.
- It is very true than Norway is more proviencial. I absolutely don't see the point of living in Oslo: its big enough to have a lot of big city problems, but to small to really have the cultural advantages of really big cities. I would really only consider Stavanger, Bergen or Trondheim. Working in IT it will probably easiest to get a job in stavanger or trondheim. The it industry in trondheim is a lot more interesting than the it industry in stavanger.
- One final comment. Relatively few European, non Swedish people move to Norway. Ie if you move, and learn the language, people will be extremely impressed. You will be considered Norwegian eventually, I don't think this will ever happen in Switzerland.
I really enjoy living in Switzerland, but i miss the easy access to nature and my family. I live here due to my work, but I will eventually move back.
Sorry for the long answer, apparently I have a lot to day on the topic...
You misunderstood: this is exactly what I am saying: Winter is the main thing to think of when thinking about norway. The rest (social life, surroundings, bars, dialects difficulties etc) is secondary. Winter is the hardest to deal with, and that should be the first and main focus of reflection for a southern guy to go north.
I said exactly that, we agree.
I disagree strongly. But you are entitled to your opinion. Generally speaking, Norway is a very different experience for a Norwegian and for a southern foreigner.
Thanks for all the replies...In the end I think I'll decide to try to move to Switzerland...to the German-speaking part
- It's not a paradise
- It's not a perfect country
- It's not a perfect democracy
But for me it's the "best compromise":
- Close to Italy, that is...to my family (ok, Germany is not that far...but still a bit farther)
- Not incredibly dark in winter (and probably still warmer than Norway)
- At the center of Europe (not at the periphery like Norway)
- Italian immigrants are nowadays well-integrated (in Ticino I think they don't like only the frontaliers, not the Italians who reside there), after a long and difficult history of immigration...
I wouldn't move for the money or for the good economy, also because there are two ticking bombs in the Swiss economy:
- The strong Swiss franc, that the stubborn and isolationist Swiss don't want to devaluate...well, they'll soon feel the pain of a country that can't export anymore, or of foreign tourists that can't afford anymore to visit the country
- The property bubble...it won't be as painful as in the US/UK, but when it will burst...some people will be hit
I don't mind very much the fact that, apparently, Swiss-Germans are cold and unfriendly...from my limited experience as a tourist, that happens mostly in the Zurich area, maybe because of overpopulation, high cost of living, "relatively" big city, etc...that's why I'll try to find a job in Basel or Bern instead
Of course...I'll probably still visit Norway at least once a year, on holiday...For me it's a fantastic country whose landscapes are mind-blowing.
Oh....I forgot to ask...With the perspective of living in Switzerland long-term...does it make sense to convert NOW (before moving, before even having found a job) my savings from Euros to CHF? Or should I wait to
- Find a job
- Move
- Wait a few months after the move, in order to be really sure that I want to stay there long-term?
Thanks
I can't help to get the impression that "clueless know-it-all" seems to be a dangerous combination.
Keep your savings in Euros, you would loose a lot by converting into Swiss francs now. If you have to use your savings, well, just do, but otherwise, keep it the way it is and save Swiss francs with your Swiss salary.
unless you fancy converting now and converting back in the event that you don't move/find a job, then it might make more sense to convert afterwards.
or he could make money. the fx rate can move both ways.
If you think the euro will be even lower next year, go for it! But it will only be more money if the euro goes up again afterwards...