You just have to look at the Autostrada on the Swiss / Italian Border and Fox Town in Mendrisio to see the chaos for what people believe is a bargain to be had elsewhere.
I hate those kind of things, spending a whole day in those mega stores bouncing from one shop to the other..
Sometimes can be necessary though... especially during sales periods.
To clarify a bit more what I said in the previous post, something that I really hate of the high-earning migrants of Switzerland is that they believe they have the right to sententiate on everything it gets discussed like they have been given the right to do so. Like they know what's on someone else's pocket and like they should feel right about patronizing somebody just because it might be on a lower wage (although not explicitly written, this is what I've smelled in many posts here so far).
Like an old popular italian saying states "Money give the sight even to the blinds" - don't think you hold the absolute truth just because you've got some more pennies in your pocket.
Don't worry I got the joke. I really wanted to know how much does your salary have to be to be considered a high paying job in Switzerland. Just want to know how many tens of thousands more I would have to make Thanks!
These threads are always a great debate on a complex subject. I think every one of us was probably shocked when we first came here, but gradually you realize a few things, like higher wages=higher prices, quality is generally higher, taxes are lower and included in the price (something not found in the US, at least), etc.
I'm still shocked sometimes, but I calm down much faster also.
One note- Aldi suisse is NOT cheap. Otto's is much much better.
OK, things that are cheaper in Switzerland:
Wine
Cheese
Petrol
Digital Cameras (don't ask me why, but they're cheaper here than almost anywhere outside China)
Good quality produce (fruits and veggies)
But, that's about it. Sorry I couldn't come up with 10. There's someone floating around the boards insisting that Mobile Phone costs are cheap here. You might want to ask him.
If you do a search here you will find lots of info on salaries including a poll as I recall.
I would estimate anything over 100000chf is not bad ( for professional jobs right?). 150000-200000chf for junior/senior management and thereafter the sky's the limit , CEO's measured in millions .
Don't worry I was just being annoying about the 10 things. But Cheese is not cheaper! It is a lot more expensive than in ITaly, Germany and NL. Wine...they have different brands so can not say, but white wine is cheaper here. Digital cameras? Im running to inter discount tomorrow Mobile phones are cheaper yes! I agree!
I do not complain abou tmy salary really I make more than in NL even before the bonus. And the fact that prices are higher here I have to admit has stopped me from compulsive shopping, ok ok not TOTALLY but is has decreased significantly (statistically speaking ).
Well, if you look at the American prices as a European. You also think it's cheap as cookies there. Also when you compare pricing between Netherlands and Germany some products are cheaper in Germany (kitchens, cars etc.). All depends on the country. For example, meat was (or is) more expensive in France then in the Netherlands.
Aren't those 150-200k salaries more when you are working big companies like banks etc? None of the companies I applied for jobs offered such amounts. All companies had less then 10 employees. I suppose bigger companies can pay more, eh. Bigger companies mostly means more rules and less freedom regarding work you can do (only do x not y).