Thanks a lot in advance to anyone who can help me out!
Hi all, I am currently considering a job in Fribourg, I would have to move to Switzerland as I do not live there now. I am wondering what typical prices are for a one bed apartment (not too extravagant but with room to swing a cat in!) in the area. Also what are the typical payments required when renting (size of deposit, agency fees, taxes, setting up utilities etc).
Bear in mind that if you've never been there it may be worth visiting first... i've heard from a couple of people that Fribourg is a pretty boring place to live. Maybe fine if you have a family... but it may also be a pain if you're young and single. Good luck with the hunt though.
check this websites for the prices of apartments
I am currently in Fribourg, moved to stay with my boyfriend who is Swiss. I moved from a big English city and I would agree with Richdog, that it would be worth checking out the town and the surrounding area to see whether it suits what you're looking for. Also, I'm not sure whether you speak French or not, but it would definitely help you to integrate if your French is decent to start with.
Fribourg is beautiful, and has lots of charm, as well as a big art community, but it is a relatively small university town and not as international as say Geneva or Lausanne...
I don't want to put you off but I agree that you should have a look and see whether you can imagine yourself living there. As I'm living with a Swiss it's easier in terms of language, sharing his friends, getting to know the area etc... I have a feeling that as a single person it might be difficult, depending on whether you've already lived in another country, are used to speaking another language (I have French family, so am relatively used to being in another culture, and yet still find certain things a challenge here!), and so on. Of course a lot depends on your willingness to integrate - to seek out what is great about the town and local area (the wildlife, the mountains, the trust that people give you when you get to know them, the relative calm, that the public transport seems to work...) rather than what may not be the same as wherever you are moving from.
Hope your searching goes well
I've been living in and around Fribourg for 14 years now and I'm very fond of the place. It has a certain small-town charm and sense of famliarity about it. Probably not the liveliest of places, but that depends on your expectations and what you're used to. There's always a generous English-speaking clientele in Paddy Reilly's, which is always good for a laugh.
As regards prices, check out www.homegate.ch or www.comparis.ch with Fribourg (1700) as your search criteria. You'll probably be looking at around 1000.- or so rent for a 1 bed, deposit is usually 1 or 2 months' rent and if you deal directly with the letting agent ("regie"), you'll pay no fees. Avoid the regie Foncia Geco ( http://ch.foncia.com/foncia_swizerland_fr/ ) like the plague, we just had them and they are frigging useless.
Setting up utilities I can't remember, but you'll pay less deposit on a phone line if you're EU, for some reason.
Assuming you'll be paying tax at source as a new arrival, the rates can be found here http://appl.fr.ch/scc/iso/default.htm .
Spaking French will be a real advantage, since there aren't the number of English speakers that you'd find in the bigger cities.
Where are you coming from and what line of work are you in?
Like Richdog has said- visit Fribourg first, you might find it less than exciting (if your posted age is really 31).
Fribourg people!
Sorry to hijack thread, but I'm guessing some of you will come across this and I'm trying to liven up EF events in Fribourg!
If you fancy having a chat (with wine or cake or hot chocolate/ some other appetising thing) about English books or know someone who does, please have a look here... Fribourg - English book group?
ok first of all thanks to EVERYONE for your posts, I find any opinion good or bad extremely helpful so thanks again.
I will DEFINITELY come and stay for the weekend after reading all your posts, to see how I get on.
I studied French at school but have since forgotten it all, yes I am really 31 (well i will be in January anyway which is when I would be arriving) so it was 16 years ago now, but i have managed to pick up Italian here in Bologna so the experience will not be so new, although difficult still I agree. But on the upside, how many trilibgual Brits are there these days?
I will definitely let you all know here what happens
Bye for now!
When is your interview? Drop me a PM.
Apartments are pretty cheap here, especially if they are a bit further from the downtown area. 1000-1200 for an average 1 bedroom.