Live and work in Switzerland

Basic facts about Switzerland

Switzerland is a charming mountainous country in central Europe with an area of 41,285 km² and a population of 8.7 million people. Switzerland is not a member of the EU,  and their currency is Swiss Franc (Chf, SFr, Fr) and 1 Chf = 0.96 EUR. Their capital city is Bern, but the most expensive city regarding costs of living, also in the entire Europe, is Zurich. Fortunately, it also has one of the highest average wages in Europe. They have four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. 

5 fun facts about Switzerland 

1. The shape of the flag of Switzerland made it world famous, it’s a square! A white cross on the red background can be seen on official buildings or during national holidays and events. 
2. Switzerland remained neutral during WWII, and they have in general remained famous for their neutrality. Switzerland is not a member of the European Union nor NATO nor European Economic Area. 
3. Around 25% of residents in Switzerland are foreigners. So, they are are really open to expats.
4. They have one of the most strict laws regarding pets ownership. Social animals such as guinea pigs can’t live alone on the charge of abuse. Fortunately, to avoid pet-buying circles, pet-renting services work well.
5. Despite being neutral in so many ways, Switzerland is well prepared in case of war. One of their defence strategies is placing explosives in every main centre of the country. Switzerland is also well prepared in case of nuclear attack, as cities are equipped with nuclear bunkers by law.

Culture in Switzerland

Moving to Switzerland can result in a a real cultural shock. Switzerland is a multicultural environment speaking four languages, none of which is English, which might be overwhelming when you are not prepared for it. Of course, English is well known in their society, but it may get lost in diversity. Swiss people appreciate privacy a lot and they can come off rather closed off towards foreigners. But they are not hostile, it’s more an expression of their preference of guarding their privacy. So for making friends, give them a little more time. Some expats say that nationals will accept you entirely if you learn the language and adapt to some of their customs. 

Sunday is a day of relaxation, and some activities are even prohibited by law! You can’t mow your lawn then, unless you want to get into trouble. A good idea for the weekend is to travel around the country to see many breathtaking landscapes of the Alps or small lovely towns. The country is divided into 26 regions called cantons and in every single one, there is something worth seeing.

Typical food in Switzerland 

Some of the cultural gems of Switzerland are found in the gastronomy section and there are two things which most probably came to your mind while reading this sentence. The first one is of course chocolate, known as the best in the world. You have probably heard about Toblerone and Lindt, right? Making chocolate in Switzerland is frequently close to art. It’s a big part of their export. Equal in popularity to chocolate is cheese. The variety of choices and quality of each piece has made their cheese famous. 

The spices and seasoning used in Switzerland may be characterised differently depending on the region. Some common herbs are basil, rosemary, thyme, and parsley. Garlic, which comes from their mountains, red onion and charlotte onion are also frequently used. Some of the most popular Swiss dishes are: 

1. Émincé de Veau à la Zurichoise is a sliced veal with mushrooms cooked with a cream sauce and wine
2. Swiss Fondue consists of one or two kinds of melted cheese mixed together with garlic and wine
3. Pâté Vaudois (meat based crispy snack)
4. Röstis is sliced potatoes baked with butter, which might be served with meat or eggs
5. Malakoff de Vinzel, or le Luins, are simply balls of fried cheese

Famous desserts worth trying are definitely Leckerli, La Salée au Sucre or Le Gâteau Payernois. And when it comes to alcoholic drinks, their wine has to be mentioned. Especially the vineyard in Vaudois, which is even listed in UNESCO World Heritage List.

Finding accommodation in Switzerland

Finding accommodation in Switzerland can seem like a demanding task. However, remember that it’s not impossible to find accommodation on your own. Use online renting portals to see what prices are in which regions and how many offers are available. Don’t leave it for the last moment, and be prepared to look around for at least a month. You can also join Facebook groups about rentals in Switzerland, Zurich or Bern. To get accommodation you often have to show proof of employment. You can also ask for help from real estate agencies, but the fee for their services are usually high.

Apartments for rent are usually unfurnished, which often means even lack of light fitting and utilities are often paid separately. The deposit is equal to three months of rental. Sometimes you also need a Swiss guarantor to be accepted for accommodation, so after getting in touch with the landlord ask about all additional requirements. 

Cost of living in Switzerland

Switzerland is known for its high cost of living. It’s true that three of their major cities are ranking into the 10 most expensive cities in the world (Zurich, Bern and Geneva) but at the same time the salaries in Switzerland easily counterbalance this cost of living, having an average salary of around €6200. Below you can see examples of general expenses:

Description	Cost in Euros (€)
Accomodation*	1.400
Food**	100
Public transport	77.21
Tennis court rent (1 hour on weekends)	33.52
Mobile rate (1 min. Prepaid tariff)	0.21
Cappuccino	4.51
Cinema ticket	18.34
Pint of local beer	6.27
Total	1640

* Prices can vary depending on the neighbourhood, the number of people living in the apartment and facilities.

**Depends greatly on your diet and which shops you buy food and drinks from.

Expats in Switzerland

Many expats who already decided to move to Switzerland have felt a big attraction to the incredible quality of life. Around 25% of the dwellers are internationals so the expat community is dynamic, especially in the bigger cities. You can join social media groups where foreigners are sharing their best pieces of advice and experiences about living in Switzerland. Look for the groups with meetings and events too, and attend as much as you can. What makes you feel like home are people, so seek to meet  people in the new places. 

Making friends with locals is often challenging in the beginning as they can be quite reserved towards expats. But don’t let it make you feel bad, they like privacy but after some time they will open up their circle to you. You can start looking for friends among your colleagues, which is also an easy option because you meet them on a daily basis. So creating a bond shouldn’t be a problem. 

Where to Learn German in Switzerland?

Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Around 60% of the population speaks German and it will be easier for you to land a job in Switzerland if you speak German at a certain level. There are numerous apps dedicated to teaching Swiss German, so it would be great for you to start downloading one of those before getting into your Swiss journey. These apps are: Grüezi Switzerland, utalk Swiss German, Schweizerdeutsch Lernen and Dialäkt Äpp.

Pro tip: Try to learn Swiss-German, since it’s the variation of the language that is actually spoken in Switzerland.

Still not convinced about Switzerland?

The Swiss people value work-life balance, and outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, and biking are easily accessible. Safety, cleanliness, and efficient public transport are part of everyday life. The Swiss are known for their punctuality, precision, and hospitality.

The best way to make the most of living and working in Switzerland is to try to understand locals, respect their customs and learn the language of the region you live in. But even before, you will quickly realise why Switzerland is a well-known dream expat destination. There are plenty of benefits at work, magnificent nature, a constantly growing economy, and high salaries, which attracts people from afar. If you spend your money wisely you will meet no barrier to creating lifelong memories and at the same time developing your professional career.