Best wishes
Mike
Hi could anyone ice me advice on what life in Switzerland is like? I have been skiing in Switzerland many times but I have no idea what life there is really like. I am looking to get out of the UK firstly as I am a top tier tax payer and I believe it is better in Switzerland for tax purposes but can somebody give me an idea as to living costs etc? I would need to be within an hours reach of Geneva airport as I travel international extensively and this is the second reason to be more centrally located in Europe, I can actually get to cambridge & London from Geneva quicker and cheaper than I can from Manchester. I am also looking at CZ as an option but I think Switzerland would be more ideal for a British expat it's just all going to come down to the numbers vs lifestyle as anywhere is currently better than the UK. Advice much appreciated.
Welcome to the Forum.
You want to save money and expect us to provide our time and knowledge - for free - spoon feeding you so your life is richer while having not contributed to the Forum? Your sense of self is perhaps the problem and not with the UK you so despise. Perhaps use the search function, $pend a little time browsing this wonderful resource. Your questions are impossible to answer and it's Monday morning. I'm sure you appreciate a robust response.
All the best.
If you love the mountains then Switzerland is amazing. I guess you would need to live on lake Geneva. I have lived in Morzine in France which was 1hr-1hr30 from Geneva airport but further on from that is Chatel which is in Switzerland. There are posts you can search about tax, and if you would be taxed at source. I know nothing about that. The lifestyle would be very different from Manchester, but if you love the outdoors and a quiet lifestyle then you should enjoy it.
Is it possible to move to CH from the UK now with Brexit?
Chatel is in France. Last village in France before you cross the border to Morgins, Switzerland.
Stop being lazy and do your own research. Search the forum using the white box in the top right of the screen and you will find all the answers you need to fuel the next stage of your material dreams.
oops! It was 12 years ago that I lived in Morzine, thanks for the correction.
Now certainly. From 2019 - who knows.
Welcome to the forum. The various sticky threads in the subsections of the forum will give you a lot of info as will this sticky.
https://www.englishforum.ch/daily-li…st-living.html
I also suggest you get hold of a copy of “Living and Working in Switzerland” by David Hampshire. It’s full of useful info. You can order it from your local bookshop or via the internet.
As for your status here once Brexit happens, well that’s anyone’s guess at the moment. Be aware that the Swiss are in the process of changing the requirements to get and keep all types of permit here so even if you get one, you’ll need to meet the new requirements to keep it.
As a “top tier” tax payer I presume you mean you earn over GBP 150k. Geneva and the surrounding areas ie within an hour of the airport have the highest tax rates in Switzerland and some of the highest living expenses. If your income comes from employment and depending on your lifestyle, I’m not sure you would save money compared to living near Manchester.
If you are sitting on an 8 figure fortune and are therefore able to negotiate an individual tax deal, the situation changes somewhat, but you really should be talking to your private banker and tax advisor and not asking randoms on the internet.
Living an hour from Zurich airport in Kanton Schwyz or Zug could indeed make financial sense though.
Plenty of info on the forum as others have said.
Why all the agression guys!?! If you don't want to reply, just don't!
Mike- even though Switzerland is small- it is just as varied, and in many ways more so (as each Canton and even each village, has its own rules and taxes, etc). So your question just cannot be answered. Life in Zurich will be VERY different to life in Morgins (and Châtel is definitely in France!) - and even in the Valais area, life in Morgins or Champery (few expats- but direct access on skis to all Portes du Soleil resorts both sides) to life in Verbier (too many expats and Hurray Henries) - or life in Iserable or, Sion... or Upper Valais (different language for one).
Taxes also change vastly from region to region- you will find that property and everything else is much more expensive in areas where taxes are low, and vice versa.
Do you have children? Do you speak either German or French, or Italian?
Do you have any intention of taking part in real Swiss life and 'integrate' (whatever that means) - or do you wish to just save tax and live a parrallel expat bubble life?
Profile says French which is why Geneva as a choice rather than Zurich is my guess.
OP became wealthy off the society he despises; thumbs his nose at the place and demands we solve his 'problems' gratis. On a Monday. Cue lots of vague questions then never seeing him again.
He sounds like a big boi and can take as good as he gives, I'm sure. Aggression? lol. We save that for Tuesdays.
" The rich man despises those who flatter him and hates those who do not flatter him at all "- Talleyrand
He ́s online now, maybe we get some replies
Dear All
Many thanks for the responses upon reflection it does make me sound like an arse and lazy and I do appreciate the blunt responses back.
Thanks for pointing me in the direction of where I can find the information I require that is very useful. I would look to integrate wherever I live part of the reason to move out the UK is also to live a more European way of life and escape the xenophobia that is plaguing the country post brexit, my fiancé is polish and the climate has become rather toxic. Untortunatley I don't sit on an 8 figure fortune or I would be setting up in Monte Carlo I am from a working class background and I work my ass off and pay large sums of tax for dropout brexiteers to sit around drinking and coming out with xenophobic remarks. I don't have to save vast sums of cash on tax if compared to living in the UK if the lifestyle is better. I am an outdoors person I like the quiet and countryside so being in the Alps would be ideal many thanks for your responses.
Best wishes
Mike
They already explained why all the *alleged* aggression . In fact even the OP appreciated to be put back on track. So it's only you and a few posies which are unhappy with the situation.
Thanks others for keeping watch on the forum and reminding newcomers about consideration for others and their freely donated "work" which constitutes, without a doubt, a very good source of information.
-Define "European way of life"!!?? Definitely Switzerland is not in Europe. I repeat it's not in Europe. I mean it in numerous ways. I am also quite familiar with other European countries and well it's entirely different. Be *both* prepared for a shock if you expect any similarities.
-Lifestyle is better? Again, in your opinion. Compare to UK, I find most of Switzerland absolutely deadly boring. Wave goodbye to cheap pubs, variety of food, banter, etc...
-You *might* be better off financially. Just wait for the health bills to hit you, the mechanic bill longer than NHS queues, the extra amount you'll be ripped off when being Switzerlanded, the gold bullion you need to pay for the monthly rent, etc...
-Geneva... <-- it's so *special* that it even has its own section. Boak.
Right, I'm indeed depicting another vision you had. I'd say don't judge the old UK based on what's happening politically lately (well, or should I say "not happening") because it's worth more than that. Indeed it's going through some crisis, but it still has interesting sides.
Thanks for the info and something worth keeping in mind. I will use the links and info that have been posted on the thread.
Best wishes
Mike
Pedant hat on.
Unless somebody decided to move it to Africa or South America or somewhere without telling anyone I think you'll find that Switzerland is most definitely in Europe. It is not a part of the European Union but it is most definitely in Europe.
Are you single?