Anyway, good luck finding a new apartment!
Now, having your job relocated abroad doesn't necessary put you in this category. Now, it is what someone has do do to keep having a job. And yes it goes in sacrifice category when one has to give up the job for the other one, when they have to go away from family, friends and support circle for a place they don't know with a salary that doesn't necessary compensated that sacrifice. You do it anyway, why? Because with hope that later on it will gets better, that something will be worthed at the end.
We are not all here because we wanted it, we are not all here by choice but many of us are here by lack of choice, by necessity and because it was the obvious move to do. That doesn't make us see all about here in pink!
My below argument may vary depending upon how ''settled'' you are.
1. locals don't have to pay for German classes .
(as an example belingua, of-course there are cheaper options, but on an average)
each level takes around 18 to 20 weeks!
prices 2011 average 300 chf per week.
this would be multiplied by the number of members in the family.
not all companies help in the integration.
2.Various misc charges Driving classes , which they would be already eligible in their home country costs another add on
3. when expats move, there is not an immediate disconnect from the home country. Most have them have to manage mortgages/property, back home too.
An yearly family trip to sort things back home also adds to expats' expenditure.
4. with one person earning, inspite of the good social security system in place, there is always job/ visa renewal insecurity.
5. Many expats due to the insecurity or ''long term invisibility'' are forced to send their kids to expensive ''international'' schools.
6. Not everyone who moves in here works in basic jobs.If not all, some are highly qualified, lead a decent life back home. So if the salary for basic jobs is around 3500.people with professional qualification experience have expectations to earn atleast double than them.
7. like someone mentioned , trailing partner who left behind an established career would also add to the salary expectations. Having no assets here like home, or parents relatives to take care of your kids when needed, also adds to the cost
So the answer to the question if one can live on less than 70 000 in Switzerland?
yes one can. but is it worth the effort of staying away settling down in a new region away from your home country. May be not.
But please correct me if I am mistaken, as I wouldn't like to live with misconceptions.
As for the original question, it is an easy one: yes, one can. Now make a new thread to ask how one lives here with 70.000 CHF.
[Not wanting this to be an ad hominen , but many do seem to be here purely for the scratch and still feel the need to moan about their life here.
Here is the summary of "trash"....
============================================
OK, let's summarize what we have so far:
Housing/Rent
Don't rent something in the most expensive uptown part of your region. Drive around the most interesting neighbourhoods until you find a region where kids are playing outside after school. Jot down these regions, and then look for the good appartments for rent. Communication / Internet
pre-paid mobile phone (no surprise bills and keeps you very aware of the costs).
bundled internet with phone, no cable tv (actually, we don't have a tV at all!)
The 6cm thick stone in my gas-grill-converted-to -pizza-oven was purchased in Alsace!
Tom
I live in Chile. Every year I contract teachers from the States for my language school. When they get down here, it ́s like they speak a different language; what they have heard about Chile from friends or acquaintances in the States is way off base: where they should live, shop, etc. And during their first few weeks down here I provide them with a series of living/standard of living/cost of living insights I have acquired after living many years in Chile. Of course, first I listen to what they want, but I also know how much they will make, so it ́s easier to reduce their life style choices to a certain segment of society.
Hope people continue to provide their living insights.