I only had 199'999 per anum as a student and life was very hard, now that I earn 200'001 life is much better.

these are tough questions to answer. it's not until you move here and live the life you can really see the costs.

i am on a 100% phd salary of 36,400chf and i survive. my rent and bills are 750chf per month, plus electricity, laundry & internet. i don't go out much but i do fly home to england about once a month. i have a part time job and a little help from my parents (i am a lucky girl). i can't afford to save.

by way of example: the cost of a pineapple in the supermarket is around 4.50chf.. at home i can get one for 1.65chf. i thought food was expensive in England, here it's a whole new level of cost but there are often lots of special offers. similarly for eating out, you can find budget meals.... my local chinese restaurant will serve up a green chicken thai curry and rice for 6chf!

i also run a car but only because i had it beforehand. i rarely need to use it though. as has been said, you really don't need one in switz.

there is no doubt it's expensive here. but you will manage - if sensible - on 40k, and it sounds like you can supplement your salary too. as for how much you can save.... if you can negotiate the extra salary, you might find you can save that - so why don't you gross up your 1500-2000k savings budget and negotiate with that figure in mind?

bear in mind that the first few months are expensive whilst settling. you need to spend money on moving around, meeting people and trying stuff. as i have become more settled i am happier to stay at home more often (cheaper!) and am spending less.
good luck!
Lysandra

Thank you for you answers.

As I understand salary on the level of 50 k CHF is very good as for PhD and in some cases it's even better than normal job, right?
So, is it possible that in this Actelion they may offer me salary on lower or the same level?
If my earnings will be similar, I won't hesitate and take PhD. After 3-4 years I will have additionally (except savings) a title Doktor of Philosophy. But if the salary in company would be significantly higher I would take the job. In my situation savings are priority.

Coming back to my second question:
Is it possible to get in Actelion more than 50k CHF (if yes, what is decent amount I can come up with during interview?)?

As stated elsewhere, you can live happily off 36-48k as a single PhD student, with money to spare for partying and travelling. Less eating out towards the 36k; live as you like (and even save) towards the 48k.

Then when you get a job afterwards, you won't know what to do with all the money.

don't worry, we allways find plenty of ways to waste money

My guess about half a million give or take 450k, now stop asking stupid questions, you're only worth what somebody is willing to pay you and if you're not happy with it, don't take the job and find something else !

Waiter for instance although this takes some level of inteligence

I just wanna say that the salary is a rip off for someone thats PHD level educated........a bud of mine(who was an asylum seeker) works in a factory doing packing and gets about 3600 franks a month......im sure u can get much better.......u can do way better...............and theres no way ull be able to do half of what u want to do with 3000 franks..

Good luck

You've totaly missed the point, the salary is not to have a good time, it's to assist the guy to live modestly and finish his studies.

Modestly means not eating out too much, no car, public transport, a library ticket and limited hangovers

PhD's are 10 a penny, potential PhD's less. PhD students are the only chance a prof has to get some half way decent research done and even then its touch and go

Neuchatel PhD crew signing in! But your salary seems a bit low! Are you at UNINE? The IMT EPFL people here get 55,000.

grad school = intellectual indentured servitude.

Did you even read the thread? He isn't PhD level educated. He's looking to become a PhD student.

If you compare the salary over a lifetime of someone who packs in a factory and someone who has a PhD I wonder who will win.

And my point is that on such salaries I and the other PhD students I know live pretty rocking lives. So above modest. Not sure what MsLysandra is doing esp with such low rent to just scrape by.

That's not a fair question. The more appropriate question would be if someone chooses to take a job in one's field as opposed to doing a PhD in this field and then entering the job market, who wins out. Usually, it is the former. Of course this is moot if one REQUIRES a PhD for one's career (Academia, sometimes research, ...)

Regardless, some people do PhDs for the intellectual achievement and not for future salary considerations.

I know the question wasn't fair, just like the person I quoted's comparison wasn't fair.

You can't compare what is essentially a stipend to a career salary. I can't see much upwards salary movement in a packing factory unless they become a supervisor I guess. Even then you'd essentially need native local language abilities.

Duno, i ain't got a PhD, can you help me please ?

I'd personally be a millionaire by now if I hadn't dicked around in grad school for so long.

For the rent you would be paying between 800-1200 CHF.

250 CHF for insurance.

80 CHF for public transport.

300-400 Food

you have about 900-1000 CHF for your disposal, such as saving, fun, clothes whatever.

Forget about car.

Me either.

But you'd be miserable... MISERABLE I TELL YA!

True true.

Or you forget the fulltime student life and go for distance while getting a normal job and keeping your PhD field you picked and research yours. And have a family. It's a bitch, loads of travels but some go for it.