Hi Guys,

Just want some advice on what kind of salary a family of 4 can get by on in Geneva? I am due to start in Geneva end of March on salary of around 155k CHF. will this be enough to support two young kids, as we will need a 3/4 bedroom property. We're looking to live in Vaud, somewhere close to Nyon I think. I have already got a quote for health cover for us all so can account for that. It's just that the house is likely to cost 5000 CHF a month!! will be be OK on that salary?

We don't need to worry about a car as we can buy one ourselves when we get there with savings we have.

Thanks for your help.

If you are paying 5000chf a month rent it would be near impossible for a family of 4 to live on 155k.

All relative, you're gonna get all sots of answers. Consider that 155k CHF is much above average, so all in all, yes it's enough.

5000CHF a month for 3/4 rooms seems outrageous to me, but then I have no idea about the Geneve housing market.

155k gross per year will work out to +/- 8000 per month net (not considering the cost mandatory healthcare insurance for the four of you).

Your call how much out of that you want to spend on your humble abode...

Try to get an abode at CHF4,000 or less.
Consider the costs of school-going.
Your monthly grocery bill would be between CHF1,200 and CHF 1,700 a month, depending how much meat you all eat.

Good luck!

Bedrooms.

Harrison, to be safe calculate tax and deductions to be about 25%. You then have your rent to come out and this leaves about 4500chf a month.

Health insurance might cost a further 500chf a month (i'm still working this out so i might be a bit off)

Then you have bills for electric, heating etc etc.

If you are planning to put your kids in private school that will quickly dissolve the rest.

That makes a little more sense...

Note they are moving to the Socialist republic of Geneva. As such I am pleased to report that deductions are much closer to 40%. Vaud (Nyon) isn't much better tax-wise.

At least 280 per adult plus whatever kids rates are nowadays.

not sure where you are getting the 5k figure from ?

4 bed apartment Nyon from Immoscout 3,200 chf

that seems huge reduction. My company ran a simulation for my net salary a month and it came in at around 9000-9500 CHF??

thanks for your help guys. We have got a relocation agent on the case for us and they have quoted the 5000 CHF mark. Even looking on immostreet and homegate, a 3/4 bed appartment/house is a minimum of 4000 CHF. We do want a garden, so that makes a big difference.

really, really do your own simulation from your own research.

My above comment was based on deductions of 25%, if it is 40% as listed above forget the 5k house.

Again I speak for the German side, but you may find it far cheaper to buy a house if you plan to stay here.

On homegate.ch, you can search for an apartment, but also it has
a tax calculator. "Steuerrechner"

Yeah, i worked it out, at worst case scenario, of 25% reduction. Therefore my calculation (it's only rough I know!) is 155,000/12 =12,916 a month gross, nets out to 9,687 CHF after tax of 25%. On that I'm quite happy. if it was really 8000 CHF I was netting, I'd be worried.

Harrison, you'll probably find some good info within this sticky thread : Resources for those living in or moving to CH...

Well, ok, it's closer to 9'000 if you're over 32, and a (little) bit higher if you're below.

Thanks again everyone for such quick responses. Very useful. I'm only 30 too, so should benefit tax wise from that (wasn't aware of that).

also with two kids, you'l get credits : Child Allowances it differs Canton to Canton, but a rough guide is 200chf per child per month.

excellent. Every penny (or CHF) helps!!

It's not tax, it's pension plan rates that go up as you grow old. Which is to be factored in your plan too...