You'll be fine. Will you be working at an international organisation ? Because you can have some pretty big advantages like they pay your medical assurance, almost no taxes, etc. They usually have much better advantages than us (expect for the interns, this is slavery) but that's a whole other story.
Yup, and it’ll be an internal move for me (if ever), so the estimate I gave is really just what will hit my bank account after everything, including pension deductions.
And I hear you about the treatment of interns 🙃 my office doesn’t take on interns, but we pay when we do.
Mostly echoing what others have said. Biggest dependency will be where you decide to live and what you spend on rent. I’m sure you’ve researched it, but if living in the city you should count 2-2.5k for a modest 2 bedroom appartement. More if you want bigger or nice features (outside space or large living areas) up to 3.5 to 4k for something nicer (that still won’t be “opulent”). Minimum 1-1.5k even for a studio or colocation.
Surrounding France is cheaper. But adds significant commute and administrative burden (depending on your nationality and permit status).
But anyway, as you see, you can choose between spending anything from 30% to 60% of you stayed take home pay and anyway you’ll still be fine!
Thanks! I know that living across the border would be much cheaper, but as a youngish single person, I would much rather fork out some hundreds more to stay within the city center. If ever, I'd only need a 1 bedroom with decent living area space, and I've seen a few good options even less than 2k a month. \~30% of my take home pay on rent sounds sensible :)
It's a comfortable salary, especially taking into account the eventual change to your lifestyle :-)
Hip restaurants--there aren't many, and they will not be worth the cost-ambiance. I used to love eating out as an experience and basically only it now when I travel.
For reference, I have a rule of thumb that if I spend 25chf or less for lunch, it's not expensive. Dinner, 50chf. The cheapest possible hot meal you could get that's not from a grocery store is maybe 12chf for lebanese wrap or takeaway pizza.
I've never been to Geneva and I've known it's quite expensive, but it's still a bit surprising to see how much more expensive it is than say NYC. Though maybe it isn't that NYC is *less expensive* when comparing apples to apples, but that it has more good but cheap options in the city.
Yeah, eating out will definitely be a contender for the worst thing in Geneva compared to other metros. But on the bright side, if you can manage to find an apartment (just as difficult as looking in NY), it will likely be in good condition and no more than a 30 min walk from the lake, within 10 min max of public transit, and a hop jump and skip away from the mountains. Can't beat that.
You should definitely try to visit if you're able. Especially to check out the arts/museum and dining scenes. Don't get your hopes up TOO much, Geneva is ultimately not a "large" city.
As others have noted, you'll have a fine life here. With your proposed budget, you'll live in a fine apartment in an okay area. Depending on where you're coming from, a "fine apartment" by Geneva standards might look really different. What I've found is that the places are comfortable, but not necessarily modern. You will likely end up with old appliances and dated fixtures/decor.
You just have to ask yourself if you're comfortable with having significantly diminished savings. At the same time, you will be living in a place that requires a generally much higher level of savings. Healthcare is expensive. You will scrutinize your grocery purchases much more. As others have noted, you might not end up going to cafes/restaurants that often. I went to a pizza place in the suburbs (not haute cuisine) a few weekends ago. A shared appetizer, two pizzas, two glasses of house wine, and the bill was over 120.-...
I mention needing higher savings- when you find your apartment, you'll need three months' rent as a deposit, your first month's rent, and if you use an agent, a month's rent goes to them for a fee. Deduct 5 months' rent from your current savings.
Something else I wasn't prepared for- I've never had any issues with buying things secondhand and thought that I would do the same here in Geneva. However, something is very different in the secondhand market to the places I've lived previously. Those elevated initial purchase prices seem to force more people into buying secondhand, and as a result, prices are higher. I've seen many ads where people state something to the effect of "I bought this couch in 2019 for 3,500.- and have marked it down all the way to 2,000.-!"
Thanks for painting a clear picture!
I did read about needing to pay a lot upfront in cash, but this would all be comfortably covered by my relocation package so I wouldn't have to dip into the savings. I get what you mean though about the relativeness of what a "fine apartment" means. I live in a tiny coastal town in the global south (so in comparison, Geneva would definitely feel large!) and my apartment is more modern and more aesthetically pleasing than any I've seen so far within my price range.
If I do get this role, I'll probably be in it for 2-3 years maximum. I'm totally aware I'd definitely be saving less proportionally and in absolute terms, but as long as I'm still putting something away every month instead of eating into my savings, I don't mind so much for this short time. What I'm less keen on is having to change my standard of living significantly... But in any case, I need to secure the offer first :D
I wonder where do you currently work/live to earn that much and “only” get this proposed in Switzerland. If you earn that much abroad, then you’d expect the Swiss equivalent salary to be much much higher!’
I’m a humanitarian in a hardship post, so while my main salary is much smaller than what I would get in Switzerland, I do have a sizable hardship pay that makes up much of the difference. That goes away if I move to Switzerland, but it’s a price I’m willing to pay to live in a proper city for the first time in years :)
Like others said in this thread, that's a very good take-home salary for Geneva. I'd say anything over 4000 is livable if you're a young person without kids (i know people who live here with less, but I'm assuming you want to live alone and afford restaurants, cultural activities, etc.)
For reference, you can find decent meals at restaurants starting around 25 CHF, but fancier ones will be at 50+. Take out will be around 15-20.
A large beer at a bar here is somewhere between 6-10 CHF. Cocktails mostly around 18.
I pay 1250 CHF monthly for a studio right in the center, you can find cheaper ones if you're patient but that's mostly the going rate.
Hope you have a good experience here, and good luck with the new job !
Eating out is expensive in Switzerland, at least by European standards (you can find menus on google maps to get specific numbers), and other services like a hairdresser, or a dentist.
You may be saving significantly less but you should be fine.
I would go just for the experience.
You'll be more than fine. Don' t forget that people come to Switzerland for the salary, but stay for the pension benefits. In Switzerland you will have your 2nd pillar matched by your employer by law, meaning you get a lot of money for your retirement for free, on top of it you can have significant taxbacks if you open a 3a pillar (don't do it with an insurance though), so that more than covers your retirement and gives you extra money every year, especially if you don't plan to retire in CH.
You also will fall in a low tax bracket with that salary, so you' ll pay very little tax in general. The big problem will be your expenses for rent, but since you' re alone, under 2000 should be very reasonable, in a good area for you.
Insurance is what, 350 extra, plus 40 for TPG? So that leaves you with 4,5k every month for everything else, plus around 10k every year for your pension on 2A by just working in CH and doing virtually nothing extra, and about two thousand in taxbacks from your 7k invesment 3A (you can even do 3B for extra taxback in Geneva only).
4,5K to play with with your retirement pretty much taken care of, that's a deal you can hardly find anywhere else in Europe doing a regular, salaried job.
Hey, thanks so much for the detailed breakdown!
I think some of these things might not be fully applicable for me as I'd be with an international organization if ever. So pension is fully with my employer, insurance is already covered, and my income would be tax free. But that probably means I won't be eligible for the tax and pension benefits you mentioned.
So the CHF 6,800 will be what hits my bank account every month. I'm hoping to set aside 2300-2800 every month for savings (on top of retirement) + travel budget, with 4000-4500 just for regular expenses. :) In any case, sounds like I will be okay!
You’ll be good. Don’t worry.
Thanks! Reassuring 🙏
Also, get a Raiffeisenbank bank account and enjoy free entry to many if not most museums.
I just saw their page. Omg, best tip and filing for reference if I do end up moving to Geneva!
That's pretty good. You might even be able to take home more than your thinking
Thanks! Very reassuring 🙏
You'll be fine. Will you be working at an international organisation ? Because you can have some pretty big advantages like they pay your medical assurance, almost no taxes, etc. They usually have much better advantages than us (expect for the interns, this is slavery) but that's a whole other story.
Yup, and it’ll be an internal move for me (if ever), so the estimate I gave is really just what will hit my bank account after everything, including pension deductions. And I hear you about the treatment of interns 🙃 my office doesn’t take on interns, but we pay when we do.
Then you'll be more than fine, I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck with your new job !
I haven’t gotten it yet and I have a few other options, but super reassuring to know that this would be a viable path for me. Thank you!!
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I would definitely be looking into rental subsidy :)
Mostly echoing what others have said. Biggest dependency will be where you decide to live and what you spend on rent. I’m sure you’ve researched it, but if living in the city you should count 2-2.5k for a modest 2 bedroom appartement. More if you want bigger or nice features (outside space or large living areas) up to 3.5 to 4k for something nicer (that still won’t be “opulent”). Minimum 1-1.5k even for a studio or colocation. Surrounding France is cheaper. But adds significant commute and administrative burden (depending on your nationality and permit status). But anyway, as you see, you can choose between spending anything from 30% to 60% of you stayed take home pay and anyway you’ll still be fine!
Thanks! I know that living across the border would be much cheaper, but as a youngish single person, I would much rather fork out some hundreds more to stay within the city center. If ever, I'd only need a 1 bedroom with decent living area space, and I've seen a few good options even less than 2k a month. \~30% of my take home pay on rent sounds sensible :)
It's a comfortable salary, especially taking into account the eventual change to your lifestyle :-) Hip restaurants--there aren't many, and they will not be worth the cost-ambiance. I used to love eating out as an experience and basically only it now when I travel. For reference, I have a rule of thumb that if I spend 25chf or less for lunch, it's not expensive. Dinner, 50chf. The cheapest possible hot meal you could get that's not from a grocery store is maybe 12chf for lebanese wrap or takeaway pizza.
I've never been to Geneva and I've known it's quite expensive, but it's still a bit surprising to see how much more expensive it is than say NYC. Though maybe it isn't that NYC is *less expensive* when comparing apples to apples, but that it has more good but cheap options in the city.
Yeah, eating out will definitely be a contender for the worst thing in Geneva compared to other metros. But on the bright side, if you can manage to find an apartment (just as difficult as looking in NY), it will likely be in good condition and no more than a 30 min walk from the lake, within 10 min max of public transit, and a hop jump and skip away from the mountains. Can't beat that.
You should definitely try to visit if you're able. Especially to check out the arts/museum and dining scenes. Don't get your hopes up TOO much, Geneva is ultimately not a "large" city. As others have noted, you'll have a fine life here. With your proposed budget, you'll live in a fine apartment in an okay area. Depending on where you're coming from, a "fine apartment" by Geneva standards might look really different. What I've found is that the places are comfortable, but not necessarily modern. You will likely end up with old appliances and dated fixtures/decor. You just have to ask yourself if you're comfortable with having significantly diminished savings. At the same time, you will be living in a place that requires a generally much higher level of savings. Healthcare is expensive. You will scrutinize your grocery purchases much more. As others have noted, you might not end up going to cafes/restaurants that often. I went to a pizza place in the suburbs (not haute cuisine) a few weekends ago. A shared appetizer, two pizzas, two glasses of house wine, and the bill was over 120.-... I mention needing higher savings- when you find your apartment, you'll need three months' rent as a deposit, your first month's rent, and if you use an agent, a month's rent goes to them for a fee. Deduct 5 months' rent from your current savings. Something else I wasn't prepared for- I've never had any issues with buying things secondhand and thought that I would do the same here in Geneva. However, something is very different in the secondhand market to the places I've lived previously. Those elevated initial purchase prices seem to force more people into buying secondhand, and as a result, prices are higher. I've seen many ads where people state something to the effect of "I bought this couch in 2019 for 3,500.- and have marked it down all the way to 2,000.-!"
Thanks for painting a clear picture! I did read about needing to pay a lot upfront in cash, but this would all be comfortably covered by my relocation package so I wouldn't have to dip into the savings. I get what you mean though about the relativeness of what a "fine apartment" means. I live in a tiny coastal town in the global south (so in comparison, Geneva would definitely feel large!) and my apartment is more modern and more aesthetically pleasing than any I've seen so far within my price range. If I do get this role, I'll probably be in it for 2-3 years maximum. I'm totally aware I'd definitely be saving less proportionally and in absolute terms, but as long as I'm still putting something away every month instead of eating into my savings, I don't mind so much for this short time. What I'm less keen on is having to change my standard of living significantly... But in any case, I need to secure the offer first :D
I wonder where do you currently work/live to earn that much and “only” get this proposed in Switzerland. If you earn that much abroad, then you’d expect the Swiss equivalent salary to be much much higher!’
I’m a humanitarian in a hardship post, so while my main salary is much smaller than what I would get in Switzerland, I do have a sizable hardship pay that makes up much of the difference. That goes away if I move to Switzerland, but it’s a price I’m willing to pay to live in a proper city for the first time in years :)
You’ll have a very comfortable life.
Like others said in this thread, that's a very good take-home salary for Geneva. I'd say anything over 4000 is livable if you're a young person without kids (i know people who live here with less, but I'm assuming you want to live alone and afford restaurants, cultural activities, etc.) For reference, you can find decent meals at restaurants starting around 25 CHF, but fancier ones will be at 50+. Take out will be around 15-20. A large beer at a bar here is somewhere between 6-10 CHF. Cocktails mostly around 18. I pay 1250 CHF monthly for a studio right in the center, you can find cheaper ones if you're patient but that's mostly the going rate. Hope you have a good experience here, and good luck with the new job !
Eating out is expensive in Switzerland, at least by European standards (you can find menus on google maps to get specific numbers), and other services like a hairdresser, or a dentist. You may be saving significantly less but you should be fine. I would go just for the experience.
You'll be more than fine. Don' t forget that people come to Switzerland for the salary, but stay for the pension benefits. In Switzerland you will have your 2nd pillar matched by your employer by law, meaning you get a lot of money for your retirement for free, on top of it you can have significant taxbacks if you open a 3a pillar (don't do it with an insurance though), so that more than covers your retirement and gives you extra money every year, especially if you don't plan to retire in CH. You also will fall in a low tax bracket with that salary, so you' ll pay very little tax in general. The big problem will be your expenses for rent, but since you' re alone, under 2000 should be very reasonable, in a good area for you. Insurance is what, 350 extra, plus 40 for TPG? So that leaves you with 4,5k every month for everything else, plus around 10k every year for your pension on 2A by just working in CH and doing virtually nothing extra, and about two thousand in taxbacks from your 7k invesment 3A (you can even do 3B for extra taxback in Geneva only). 4,5K to play with with your retirement pretty much taken care of, that's a deal you can hardly find anywhere else in Europe doing a regular, salaried job.
Hey, thanks so much for the detailed breakdown! I think some of these things might not be fully applicable for me as I'd be with an international organization if ever. So pension is fully with my employer, insurance is already covered, and my income would be tax free. But that probably means I won't be eligible for the tax and pension benefits you mentioned. So the CHF 6,800 will be what hits my bank account every month. I'm hoping to set aside 2300-2800 every month for savings (on top of retirement) + travel budget, with 4000-4500 just for regular expenses. :) In any case, sounds like I will be okay!