Hi

I'll be moving to Switzerland in September. Have a short visit in the 3rd week of August to start house hunting. Can anyone give me some hint where is best to live? We are a couple (41/30) with no kids that likes to go to restaurants, movies and theatre.

Thanks

Jose Luiz

Welcome to EF Luiz,

I think that someone would have to live in both places to be able to give you an opinion on "Where is best to live". Posters will hopefully give you likes and dislikes about where they live. I searched for "geneva lausanne living like" and found 43 threads.

This is a guide to using search on EF.

Similarly there is lots of information on property and property web sites if you search for it.

Are either of you working? That might be something to consider before you decide where to live... But having said that & not knowing anything about you, I think you should live in Lausanne!

Hi All

I'll be working in Ecublens and my partner will learn French. We are both Brazilian and currently live in the UK. We are here for the past 3 years. I am an ex-pat and now my assignment is in Switzerland.

I know it is hard to give advice to someone you don't know, but any hints will do. I've been reading some of these postings also it helps on the decision.

Many thanks

If you are working in Ecublens (VD) then Lausanne would seem to be the obvious choice. I believe the housing market in Geneva is quite difficult and more expensive.
There's also an Ecublens in Fribourg but I presume you mean the one in Vaud, near Lausanne.

It is in Ecublens, Vaud. My doubt came when I chatted to a few people that work in that sub and some live in Lausanne and others in Geneva. Therefore, the commute is doable.

I am trying to get more perspectives, if you will. Since my partner doesnot drive, where in Lausanne would be good to live. I don't mind the commute.

if you're working near lausanne than definitly Lausanne. Rents will be cheaper and commute shorter (and cheaper).

It's very hard to find a place here, the vacancy rate is 0,17% and the Geneva government isn't doing much to remedy the situation

Lausane is a lovely place if a bit hilly

You might get some ideas from this thread.

I would prefer Pully or Lutry or St Sulpice. But the rental value of apartment and specially near the lake is very high. I would suggest you have to look into your personal financial situation before making any decision. The areas like Lausanne, Rennens, Chavannes and Ecublens are all very nice with low rental value. But you will be paying higher tax than if you live in Pully for example.

I think it's a personal choice - depending on what you like.

I've lived in Geneva and visited Lausanne lots of times, given a choice I'd prefer Lausanne.

You could live in-between, then you'd get the best of both worlds!

If you work in Ecublens, you may want to have a look at Morges, really nice town very close to Lausanne. It's lovely in Summer and whenever you need to you can go to Lausanne in less than 10 minutes. Depends on whether you like smaller cities or not...

There is no point trying to find a flat near or in Geneva if you work in Lausanne. Lausanne is cheaper, nicer in my opinion.

Thanks all for the messages. After doing some research, we decided to move to Lausanne. The house hunting starts...

Cheers

Thanks for the replies! I have been wondering the same thing!

Being a mod has perhaps given me a nasty suspicious mind.
Answering a two year old Thread seems almost like an attempt to increase ones post count.
The housing situation is Geneva seems to be even more difficult than in Lausanne though, so that perhaps hasn't changed much.
Hope all goes well for you.

Yeah, a Mod should know better!