Does anyone have experience of living and working in both Geneva AND Zurich? How do the two compare? Cost of living? Culture? Is Zurich more outgoing and happening? Better ski resorts? Closer to Mountain bike tracks? Friendlier people? One prettier than the other?

I am looking for work in Switzerland and whilst most IT opportunities are in Zurich I have never lived or even been there whereas I have lived in Geneva for 18 months. I really enjoyed my time in Geneva and I hope that the same would apply if i were to opt for Zurich.......

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

I have just moved to Gva from Zch, having spent 5 months in the latter.
I'm only in Gva a week so take my comments with a pinch of salt.

Cost of living is similar I think so far...
Culture - definite difference i.e. French vs German.
Zurich seems better for nightlife and that's the general consensus. I had a good time going out in Zch.
Can't really judge too much but I thought Zch was really nice and concentrated, easy to hop around between diff areas, whereas Gva seems more spread out.

From what I hear Gva has better choice of ski resorts and mountains, eg France, but there are some good ones near Zch - i.e. Davos, St Moritz, and there's a couple of decent ones an hour away....

Can't really judge the people yet... Zch'ers were ok I thought once you break them down! But hard work getting htere. Having said that my Deutsch skills are crap.

I really enjoyed Zurich but so far I'm impressed with Geneva. I'd say if you liked Gva then you'll like Zch - but there is a distinct cultural difference.

I will be able to add more later of course....!

come on, if you want to call Geneva GVA then surely you can call Zurich ZRH?

Or just type out all of the letters

Züri and Gänfi ??

Zürich.....

Zurich always seems to get the good shows from the states and UK.. here in Geneva we get Johnny Haliday

Not really true

TSR1 and 2 both show american shows like CSI etc with the option to listen in ENglish.

You can also get Naxoo which gives you access to BBC 1 and 2..

Bluewin TV will also give you English channels also

sorry.....I should have explained a bit further or a bit better.. by "shows" I didnt mean TV but rather live stage acts... rock banks, or west end type shows.

Geneva has been "blessed" with Robbie Williams and TLC this year. What more could you wish for?

Deep Purple, Lionel Richie, P!NK, Bryan <spit> Adams coming next year....

Plus you have the autosalon

That guy, he looks like Madame Tussaud's wax dummy. Whenever you look at the Geneva gig guide there are three Johnny Haliday stadium concerts listed two years in advance :-)

From what I’ve read of the complaints on this forum and about all the petty and niggly things that come from living in Zurich I would definitely say go for Geneva, OK I admit I have lived in neither but reading the feedback from life in Zurich does seem to point towards a very regimented way of life, unsociable and rude people etc,
I don’t get those vibes from life in Geneva. Skiing is near at hand, Geneva motor show, the Montreux jazz festival down the road and good regional wines.
Just my tuppunce worth.
Nick.

Let me just say, to make it clear. I LOVE ZURICH! There are more EF'ers in Zurich so you will hear more Zurich complaints, which in my opinion are either overstated for effect or just plain whinging

so if you don't know,.... don't judge.

Geneva is nice, but Zurich is great! And nice too, very nice indeed. You'll never be as close to the real mountains as you've been in Geneva, but much closer to 1 Mio people in and around Zurich. And that's quite something -> Move to Zurich!

Dan

I preferred Zurich as a city, but Geneva as a region. I initially went to Switzerland for the skiing, and preferred the ski areas closer to Geneva, but ultimately spent more time touring europe.

Are you anticipating responses about French vs German cultural stereotypes in the 2 cities? My coworkers in a merged bank of french and german banks would tell you the regions are quite different culturally, particularly in workplace. I would concur, perhaps because coworkers were quick to point out differences.

I would advise you to consider where you have a fluency advantage.

You might also research you flight/rail options if you are hoping to use either city as a departure point for travels across EU.

Wow, that was a delayed reaction

A delayed reaction from me too it seems!

Thanks all for your input on this thread though, I guess I won't really know unless I give it a go and noone here seems to hate Zurich (it is supposed to be the best place to live in Europe - or is it the world).

Slight problem for me is that now I am living and working in Dublin!, also a great city but not quite on the same level as Geneva (or Zurich) it seems.

I definitely need to give Zurich a go though and that will be my aim next year. I am gutted that this year looks like its going to have a fantastic ski season and I am not going to be close enough to make the most of it . Maybe I should start German lessons in the meantime.

Enjoy the ski season folks!

Cheers, Kipmore

Similar, except for taxes, health insurance and road tax in Geneva being almost twice the Zurich rates.

Hello, I have lived and worked in both Zuri and Geneva and for me there is no place like Züri, its cleaner, feels safer, taxes and health are cheaper, eating out cost are similar, its all a matter of what you want, I lived in Zurich first so that is where my heart is.
Good luck ......Gazzy

The joys of living in a people's republic