Hi,

I have a job offer in Freiburg (germany) for a product engineer position. The salary would be 46000 Euros per year.

I am waiting to hear back for a similar position for a Swiss company in Basel. The salary would likely be around 80000 francs per year.

What do you think that after taxes, rent, etc. could i live the most comfortably with, considering the differing living costs in each place?

Thanks!

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Thanks!

Im fresh out of University. Would like to live in a bigger town (ie. Basel Stadt or Freiburg). Want to rent a small flat (1 bedroom) in more or less the centre of town. Dont plan on having a car!

You can also pose the question at our sister site www.toytowngermany.com

You'll have more money in Basel, but people are nicer and food is better in Freiburg. As Freiburg is a University town, there's also a lot of young people around and good pubs and bars, unlike in Basel (which also has a University, but Swiss students seem to prefer livbing at Mom's place and commute).

If it were me, I'd consider taking the 80K Fr salary in Basel and spending some weekends going back/forth to Freiburg. It's only an hour away by train.

I've no idea where you're from, but your desire to live in a "bigger town" either means your University was in a tiny village, or you have no idea how small Basel is!

Based on this alone I would chose the company where you can learn the most. You went to University which means you learned some basic stuff but lets be honest, you've no clue. It's like you just received your driving licence, you know some basic rules but the real learning how to drive comes once you have a licence and are let loose on the road. Therefore, pick the company that is the most divers and that will invest more in courses etc for you. Don't chose based on location or salary.
My first job fresh out of uni was at the Philips Research Laboratories where I worked under the people that invented the CD and associated electronics. The things I learned from these people have proven invaluable...

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Happiness is a full tank of gas (or better yet, diesel !)

The salary will be comfortable for a single person in a one bedroom city centre flat in either city, so I'd pick based on the job: the training, the prospects, the people, the support and the company perks.

I also know several people who happily live in Freiburg and commute to Basel, so that's an option too.

Is it Medartis?

I have been living in 'bigger towns' for most of my life. I studied in London and did am finishing my year abroad in Zurich (huge by Swiss standards!).

The jobs arent at Medartis, but in the same area. Not sure if its a good idea to reveal more!

Btw, I wanted to thank you all for your help. I am indeed more inclined towards the position in Freiburg.

Tax in Germany is high. If your 46000 euro is brutto, your take home salary will be around 2500 euro a month. On the other hand, the social system in DE is really good (insurance, education etc...) I've also heard that Freiburg is very nice town.

I lived in Germany before I came to Zurich. It was not a very nice experience. But then Freiburg might be different.

About Zurich. I am a starter here. But so far I love it.

This site looks interesting, not least as it has one or two adult forums that we don't ...

And to the OP - go to Freiburg - you will have more fun there!

I feel in life it is always best to go with your gut feeling & you will not go far wrong.
If it was my choice (having lived in both countries) i would move to Freiburg without a second thought. Hard to comment more without knowing your personal circumstances.

Good luck

I moved from Germany to Switzerland last year and although I got a higher salary and pay lower taxes, I don't feel I'm better off. In fact, I would say that in many aspects my standard of living has slightly dropped.... though it has made me healthier as I rarely go to the pub and don't eat out as much as I used to.

Really depends on whats important to you. I could live frugally here and my Bank Balance would increase nicely every month, but then your bored senseless. The Higher Salaries and Less tax mantra is actually fools gold as wealth should be measured not just in financial terms but also in happiness and health. If I had to make the choice again, I'm not so sure I would have moved. THat said, I'm happy here and I love Switzerland so I think your lucky that you have 2 good places to choose from!

And these people just love to pay taxes and mandatory insurances that will eat up 50% of your salary? Stooopid. Be smart and do it the other way round: Live and work in Basel, go to Freiburg for weekends and leisure time.

While this estimate is roughly correct, it's not the taxes that are rather high, but payments for social security and health insurance (for single persons, for families it's different).

Depends on personal circumstances. If you have to pay 2000CHF for the kindergarden in basel, and about zero in Freiburg, things look different. And health insurance for kids and housewives is free, too. Plus more generous tax allowances and married couples tax splitting. And don't mix up marginal and average tax rates.

The way I understand the OP is single.