Hi, I have been offered to relocate to Lugano with my job. I have visited Lugano and some of the surrounding areas in the past but I am totally confused !!! I know different parts of Lugano are different prices but have no idea which areas are ok and in my budget. I need to specify which areas I would consider to live in.
I liked the area around the parko Civico Wasn't so keen on being out in Mendrisio, altough would be good to be able to access the E35 road.
Is it realistic to think I can rent an apartment in Lugano for 1200 CHF per month?- it would just be me and I would want a living area & 2 bedrooms (is that 3 rooms -not sure how it works there?)
I am a single female, not a top level excective. I would want somewhere safe in the evening, and would have a car. It would be nice to be able to walk to the lake or town centre of Lugano, but I am a keen walker so happy to a way.
I would prefer somewhere with a nice view ( i'm assuming the lake view is not in my budget) but safe areas to walk afterwork rather than bars etc would be great.
Any advice on areas of Lugano or if I am not going to be able to achieve this ?
Fair enough point- it's good to hear some feedback on costs. It's all theory when work are trying to get me to relocate and say that I will be able to afford it. I suppose if I really can't then I will need to say no or ask for some rent assistance.
I could try to rent with someone else to get a bigger place. Ultimately I guess if I can only afford a studio if renting on my own, I would rather get something in a nice area and spend more.
Are there any areas of Lugano to avoid or is it all ok?
about 60000 people live in Lugano. Why couldn't afford to live there?
It might be that the problem is not the price of rents, but that the salary they offer you is too low. You may need to work on this, and live in nearby Italy and commute.
Yes I think the salary could be too low, it's hard to know what I would need to live on. I have tried searching similar jobs in Switzerland but often the salary is not specified so it is hard to compare.
I had considered living in Italy but I feel if work wish me to work in Lugano I should be able to live there with a reasonable standard of living and safe area.
Would the area around the station be safe in the evening for females?
There are certain areas of London I would not want to live in or even walk around after dark I am hoping Lugano is not like this!!!
Within a 30min drive you can find such a place for 5-600/month.
Also, commuting from Italy is a PITA, avoid it at all costs, unless you live near a major train line to CH, and most of the border towns are NOT good for this, my wife's cousin in Monza takes less time to get here than if she still lived with her parents near Luino, despite it being close to 3x the distance!
I moved from London to Lugano about 18 months ago. I was happy to pay the same amount per month for a flat in Lugano as I paid in London - and for that I felt I got a much better flat (better quality in particular now in the winter the higher-quality insulation keeps the flat easily warm and heating costs down).
With your CHF1,200 rent per month (i.e. 800 pounds) you would not be able to get a two-bedroom place in a safe area in London. But if you are willing to pay CHF1,600-1,800 per month you should be able to get something decent in say Paradiso (not a two-bedroom though). Also keep in mind you do not have to pay council tax here which is a significant expense for a flat you would expect in London.
In return for your rent you get to live in a place where everything is clean (e.g. the rubbish is collected daily Monday to Saturday), it works (i.e. no engineering works every weekend) and is on time (buses and trains are on time) i.e. the best of Switzerland is combined with the best of Italy i.e. better weather than London (more sunshine, a real summer), nice food and a lot more relaxed lifestyle (including much cleaner air than London).
In terms of areas - close to Parco Civico is likely out of your budget. Paradiso on the other hand is about 15 minutes walking along the lake to town. Also in general I find Lugano very safe compared to London. In London there are several areas I would not want to be in by day and certainly not by night - the area around the train station in Lugano is very safe in my view. And while I do not know all areas of Lugano well I would say in general there are no problematic areas in Lugano as you are used to from London.
That is a really great help- thank you so much !!!
I was hoping to get a 2 bed so I could have friends or family over. I may have to go right out from the lake to achieve this or I will just go for the one bed or even a studio as you recommend then I can be nearer the area I wanted.
Paradiso would be fine too...
and yes you are right a nice area in London would be similar prices, i was just hoping to make some savings (silly really in such an expensive country ) - if I have to spend it, I have to !!!
Attention with that widespread "Switzerland is expensive" thing which is at least partially due to newbies' perception of prices and wages reconverted to the exchange rate of their homecountry.
Real estate prices, as mentioned, are a result of the bubble however, so we are talking relatively risky things (OK, that was the other thread, same OP).
Imho without a trustworthy agency and/or locals it's difficult to find the right place.
In more than one of the aforementioned quarters (or at least parts of it) most of my female friends would put their foot only if they had to, during certain hours even within daylight.
I've left in the 2012 a 40mq small flat in Lugano via Soldati 2 with a 30mq garden and a car park just near the Villa sassa in a a really nice place with open view on the lugano lake. The rent was just about 1100 per month. Try asking to the landlord who live at the -1 floor Mr. Reinhardt also the upper flat tenant was on the move.
If you are working in Lugano try also searching in Lamone or Cadempino. Not very attractive but cheaper than Lugano city and upstream the morning traffic.
Mendrisio and surroundigs are really nice with a good quality of life but the A2 in the morning is choked with traffic.
Molino Nuovo (near Villa Sassa) in Lugano and Massagno are nice places where to stay. The railway station is only few minute walking away. Lugano center is reachable within 5 minutes walking trough via dei cappuccini or by the funicular. Talking about the cons, I admit, the new traffic light in via san Gottardo has increased the congestion in that area with thousand of car every day stuck in traffic jam.. that's why I'm pointing on walking.
Lamone is'n really one of the Tessin nicest places (also Lugano isn't imho) but living in Lamone and working in Lugano could be a smart choice.
Really Lamone is a Calabrian enclave in Switzerland? haven't heard it before