Living and working in Switzerland

Would really appreciate any info on how much more salary one would need to earn in Switzerland to be coming out with roughly the same as in Germany, Munich to be specific. I'm particularly looking at Basle at present so a description of the area, the locals, the way of life, ease of integration would be most welcome. I would assume it's fairly similar to here in Munich.

Thanks in advance.

My experience there was that salaries are similar levels to here but taxes are lower. Here your total stoppages maybe say 50% and there 25%. But that was a while back. I found the Swiss in general to be a lot more private and a lot less direct than the Germans. Try not to get so used to people stopping for you on pedestrian crossings as they do there otherwise when you go to somewhere like France you will get yourself killed.

Some pop and film stars are going there - perhaps you may have a celebrity for a neighbour.

And Euthansia is legal... Handy for any unwanted visits

Hi Ulysses

I actually live just over the border in Germany but have used Basel a lot to meet people and travel there at least once a week, and I feel reasonably qualified to speak about it.

The city itself is quite small (about 150,000 I think) but gives the impression of being a lot bigger. The public transport is excellent as is the cultural life - plenty of art galleries and concerts if that is your thing. The city prides itself on being more open than Zurich, because it is so close to Germany and France and people like me from there come to visit, so there are plenty of cars with number plates from each country.

The expat life is thriving and there are plenty of English speakers who work for the pharmaceutical firms like Roche and Novartis.I am afraid I can't comment on the salaries as I don't work there, but a lot of people are 'Grenzgaenger', coming over from places like Loerrach in Germany to work - this has tax implications which again I can't comment on. A lot of people also live in Alsace and cross over.

Hope that helps. Please feel free to PM me with any specific questions. I have contacts in the pharma firms, the BIS, churches and musical life if any of those are of any use.

Aidan

A friend of mine was considering moving to Switzerland because her boyfriend works there, she said that taxes are lower but costs of living are higher (in Zürich) so things would even out.