I did some calculations and want to hear some input. My plan is to save as much money as I can. I will live in a 1 room, maybe 2 room apartment in ZH. I am not a big spender and don't plan on buying a car. My budget for a 1 room apartment, food, basic living expenses is 2,500 per month. Reasonable in your opinion? What kind of lifestyle can one have?

Mike, its hard to say.

It really depends on where you would live, what kind of lifestyle you want?

Realistically an small 1bed/2bed apartment if your not bothered about the area will cost between 1100-1500chf at best!

I think its possible to make 2500chf as a basic budget but it will be very tight.

I think you would be struggling as food can be expensive. If you share an apartment maybe it would be easier.

In general you need more to be blunt. Depends what you call basic living expenses. If you include food, etc then no its realistic.

Hope that helps a bit.

I believe that someone being very frugal with spending could live on this - but does it include insurance (like health; mandatory)? As Lee suggested, in certain areas you can get a 2 room apartment for a tad over 1000 francs.

Are you going to want internet and telephone? Will you sit at home and look at your walls each evening? What will be your income and how much would you like to save?

Hi,

Here's my thoughts: Graduate students at the ETH earn a stipend of about CHF 2500 per month, so I think you can live on this budget. However, they almost all either share an apartment, live outside of the city, or both. Also, even though the students I know have a good social life, there's certainly more of an emphasis on hanging out on the Langstrasse (nursing a beer for hours on end) rather than more expensive cultural events.

As an idea, I spend about 800 CHF on food (not including restaurants, which is usually only once or twice a month), 180 CHF on health insurance, 75 CHF on a monthly bus pass, about 120 CHF for my share of electricity, phone, basic cable/internet. So, my guess is that if you're willing to get your rent under 1000 (which can be done if you share a flat, and besides, you'll avoid the dreaded IKEA trip), and don't spend much on new clothes/going out every night, you'll be okay.

Good luck!

Fully agree with you, still remember my student life-style (not in Switzerland, but agreeing memories come up...). However, just don't know how to spend 800 CHF on food if you don't eat at restaurants (which implies you cook yourself)... you won't even make it with meat every day...

Yeah, me neither. I think it's mostly the effect of living with someone who considers himself a foodie-I am sure that I had less wine, cheese, and other expensive stuffs as a singleton (shallot, balsamic, white wine, rice wine vinegars, extra virgin, truffle olive oils, god knows how many varieties of fresh mushrooms. . .). Also, we shop pretty badly, throw away more than I'd like, and only cook dinner every night (I don't cook brekky except on weekends, and lunch universally is a horrid grab-and-go affair). Basically, even if you eat meat, 200 CHF a week is, in my opinion, plenty unless you consider yourself a gourmand (or a wino! )

You can save yourself CHF 20/month if you buy the yearly pass for CHF 660 instead of a monthly pass.

CHF 2,500 is plenty. Depends how long you want to live that way. If you did it for a few months with the goal of saving for something specific, it ain't too hard. Share a place though, it's way cheaper and you're going to meet people. Living on your own as a newbie in town could be lonely. And olive oil is cheaper when two people contribute, etc.

Or save the whole lot and get a cheap bike.

It really depends on exactly how much you want to spend on single males. I cant really advise you on this score.

dave