Important Tips Before Migrating To Switzerland
Switzerland has a very high standard of living, a stable economy, and a low unemployment rate. As a result, it is perfect for ex-pats who want to move and start a new job. The country of Switzerland has some of the highest salaries and excellent working conditions.
In large part because of its excellent level of life and low crime rate, Switzerland has been regarded as one of the best locations to live in the entire globe. In addition to having some of the highest salaries in the world, Switzerland also provides excellent healthcare, education, and chocolate.
Here are some tips to consider before moving to Switzerland:
1. Treatments/Medicine Are Expensive
The high cost of living in Switzerland shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. However, many foreigners who relocate to Switzerland quickly discover how expensive over-the-counter medication is. In fact, it is so expensive that the majority of foreigners relocating to Switzerland decide to purchase health insurance to offset the costs.
We’ve teamed up with Cigna Global to assist you in finding private health insurance in Switzerland. Cigna can provide you with a plan that covers anything you might need thanks to its four levels of yearly insurance, each of which includes additional modules for greater flexibility.
2. Cost Of Living Is Very High
There is no point in trying to hide the fact that Switzerland has a high standard of living. Swiss residents typically spend 30% of their monthly income on rent and another 5% on insurance. The average monthly spend on general expenses will be close to CHF 1,500 (about $1,615).
The opposite of this is that Switzerland has some of the highest incomes in Europe. If you can budget appropriately, you’ll be saving a respectable amount at about CHF 6,500 per month (just under $7,000). Just try to limit your fondue consumption.
3. Four Languages Are Spoken
When you travel the country, the amount of Italian, French, German, and Romansh spoken will make your head spin. Understanding normal German may not be as helpful as you may think because Swiss German is different from the dialect used in Germany, which further adds to the confusion.
Even the infrequent use of Neo-Latin may cause you to wonder, as it has done for centuries, “Did the Roman Empire really fall?”
Just to be clear, English is also widely spoken in Switzerland, so even though the four official languages are the norm, you should be able to get by, especially in the bigger cities. But learning a few words in one of those four languages wouldn’t hurt at all!
4. Getting A Home Can Be Quite Difficult
It is no secret that real estate is in short supply in Switzerland’s major towns, in part due to the enormous demand from foreigners seeking to live the Swiss dream.
And the property that is offered is typically quite expensive if you want to buy it entirely. Even if it will be simpler for you to find a rental, this does not change the reality that it might still be challenging.
Consider searching in neighborhoods outside of cities’ center sections, which is our recommendation. Since Switzerland dominates the watch industry more than any other country, it has a very effective transportation system, therefore getting stuck is unlikely.
5. Money Conversion Can Be A Bustle
It goes without saying that you will need to change part of your money into Swiss francs if you are moving to Switzerland. You don’t want to swap your money through a major street bank, though, as the conversion rates there are frequently absurd.
After all, you’ll want to save every penny you can in a place like Switzerland where prices are so high.
We advise utilizing a reputable money transfer provider, and fortunately, we’ve already done the research to assist you in selecting the best one.
6. Getting A Job Can Be Quite Difficult
Jobs are always competitive because of Switzerland’s high wages and standard of living. Even if you are fluent in the language(s), you should plan on searching for employment for about six months, especially in large towns like Geneva or Zürich.
Long hiring procedures are also ineffective; although the Swiss are expert timekeepers, they undoubtedly know how to take their sweet time in this situation. In light of this, our recommendation is to start looking for and securing a job well before moving to Switzerland.
7. Car Taxes Are A Heck!
For American ex-pats living abroad, owning a car may seem like a luxury, but it really isn’t. They pay taxes to the high hills and back, but they also have significant maintenance and insurance fees.
It’s often preferable to become used to public transportation if you’re moving to one of Switzerland’s cities.
8. Electricity Changes
Remember that the electrical current in Switzerland is AC 220–240 volts with a frequency of 50 Hz while moving there. Simply put, this implies that US citizens living abroad will have to buy a step-down transformer for their electrical appliances.
However, you ought to be able to readily buy one at most electrical retailers. Additionally, keep in mind that you must pay the electrical company directly in addition to any other utility bills you may have (unless stated otherwise in a rental agreement).
9. Education Is Great
It will come as a relief to any parent considering relocating to Switzerland to learn that the country has one of the top educational systems in the world.
Switzerland has a very high standard of education that is worthy of its enviable reputation in both public and foreign schools.
10. Transportation Is Measured In Milliseconds
It was always going to be the case that the Swiss, who are known for keeping good time, would have a very effective transportation system.
You can be sure that Switzerland will take care of your transportation needs if you have to be there by a certain time because the concept of a delayed train is considered nothing short of blasphemy here.
Get a Swiss travel pass, just a brief reminder. You’ll save a lot of money with one of the most expensive transportation in the nation.
Conclusion
You would need the right steps to lead you if you were considering moving to Switzerland. Use this post’s advice as a guide. We sincerely hope this was helpful. Gratitude for reading.