Hello dear forum people,


before I continue, let me tell you that I have read most of the related topics already present here, and because I couldn't sum all the info, I am opening new thread - thanks for understanding, hope that is ok.



I have an oportunity to move to Zurich in the next three - four months. Currently I live with my wife in Vienna, Austria. Besides salary topic (which is topic for its own), big "Fog of War" for us is where to look for apartments. I know (and saw in other similar topics) that there are almost as many different opinions as there are registered people here , but anyway, let me try to express what we are kinda looking for. In Vienna, we live nearby city center, we have fantastic connections to most important transportation crossconnections (and to the airport), pretty nice neighborhood, newer buildings (2010 and later)... So logical step would be to try to copypaste the location However, due to the fact that Zurich is much smaller compared to Vienna, and because we already consider moving somewhere out of the concrete, we thought to move somewhere out of the city. That means, some place where "auslanders" are accepted, where there are enough stores, shops and infrastructure to live decent life (without having to sit in train to buy anything more than bread and eggs), where nature is nearby (cause we would love to be able to just walk into the nature, and use the train to get to the city, not the other way around). and yet the city is not that far so that communting does not become hell (after all , I will be working in Zurich, and my wife would also look for the job there). I looked on all the places mentioned here on Forum, googled for myself, but I would much appreciate any "insider" info.



I apologize for a bit long post, and if I did not explain myself properly.


Thanks everyone for your replies!



Best regards!

Hi, and welcome to the forum - and hopefully soon to Zurich!

I would heartily recommend Adliswil for your move. It's technically beyond the borders of Zurich City (still in the canton) and has all of the main shops you would normally need in walking distance, with variety, and there are many foreigners in the area.
It's only a 16-minute train ride to the HB, and there is a lot of natural areas around - Adliswil City includes about 70% nature, or alternatively 30% built-up areas - I read that on one of the official website for Adliswil.

Oh, and the people are friendly, even the local Swiss who've been here for generations - they regularly greet me, and have since the second or third year of living here.

Hello Araqyl,


thanks for the feedback, much apreciated!



Yap, Asdliswil keeps showing up wherever I search. Will check the city, and housing offers on homegate and other similar sites.



Thanks!


Best regards!

Why not look at Wädenswil?!

Up and down the silver coast (from Ruschlikon down to Horgen/Wadenswil) are great options for families that (i) are foreign, (ii) want easy access to Zurich by train - under 20 minutes to the HB, and (iii) are small enough to enjoy nature/lake yet still have all the local shops and things you need on a daily basis. Try places like Thalwil and Horgen and see what you think. On the other side of the lake you have places like Uster which are also worth a look. If you don't have kids you may want to be closer to the City for nightlife and entertainment.

Adliswil is a very good place transportation wise if you'll work in ZH stadt. Cost of housing seem to be a bit cheaper than in the rest of places on the Silver Coast.
Re. kids education - I heard different opinions but that's normal for pretty much every place here. There's a nice mix of nationalities, I think you'll like it there.

Hellooo... and welcome to the EF.

We live in Greifensee, which is a 15-minute train ride from central Zurich, and we really love it here. There are trains that leave the station here every 15 minutes and both trains go to Zurich. Greifensee is situated on a very nice (and very clean) lake, with trails all around it as well as nice swimming spots, etc. There is a grocery store here as well as a post office and pharmacy. Some apartments here are more modern than others, I guess, but we're quite happy with ours in that it's modern enough and has a nice, private garden. I think rent here is cheaper than central Zurich, which is usually the case the further out you go from the main city.

If Greifensee ends up being something you consider, don't hesitate to send me a private message if I can be of any help with anything.

@OP - you mention that salary is a topic, which I understand means that you don't know / have not decided yet. Your income will have a large say on what you can afford where. The city or the two "coasts" are not exactly cheap. So an idea on budget would probably help.

Hello everyone!



first of all, sorry for a bit late reply, had very bussy past couple of days...



Secondly, thank you all for your feedbacks - much appreciated!



@Brian1985 - will check all the places you mentioned. TBH, we are more into nature, hiking, swiming - those sorts of things, so if we manage to combine nature within acceptable distance from all the necessities - we will be more than happy.




@greenmount - thanks for your feedback!


@Pancakes - thanks for the info, and thank you so much for offering your help!



@komsomolez - indeed, the salary topic is yet to be finalized. As a starting point (since I dont have a clear picture how much is "enough" - yes, define "enough" ) I took the fact that I would probably pay something between 1700 and 2500 (2500 being the "point of last resort" ). After looking on homegate and similar sites, it looks that this budget range could be considered reasonable. Or maybe I am totally wrong here ...



Once again, thank you all for your posts - even single detail can be of great help when deciding where to go, specially to someone who comes to live somewhere for the first time. And yes, we would love (if it would be possible) to find at least "mid-term" solution for our accomodation (moving out and moving in is as painful as it can be ...).


Wish you all all the best!

If noticeable aeroplane noise doesn't bother you too much, Glattpark might be an option. Lower health insurance costs than in the city and the neighbourhood is not picturesque but it's all very new and well cared for. There are two big supermarkets and one Turkish shop that also caters to masters of Indian cuisine. There's a park and the Glatt river nearby for walks, plus it's 8 minutes on the tram to the airport if you want to the escape the country altogether. More importantly, the airport shops are open on Sundays and until late. That is one thing that many from larger cities are shocked to find is not the norm: most shops are closed on Sundays.

I'm sorry, Kittster - don't mean to offend, but do not move to this area OP. Glattpark area has to be one of the most soulless places in Zurich. If you are into fresh air and nature, this is not the place for you. Imagine jet fumes, soulless concrete boxes to live in & surrounded by a few corporate offices ...

Uetliberg is very nice, I would look at this area. Your budget is rather tight for Zurich city, but outside, you should be able to find a decent place for 2000+.

Good luck!

You are expected to spend 1/3 of your salary for renting something.
The agency/owner will not accept you if your rent/salary ratio would be much smaller than 1/3.5 or much larger than 1/2.8 .

Vienna has the underground, therefore distances are shorter (10 minutes to do 6/7 undeground stops), while the same distances here will take you 20 or 25 minutes by tram (or 15 minutes by bicycle).

I would recommend you to avoid Adliswil (it's "dark", between the town and the lake there is a hill) so for that respect you would be better moving to the east/north-east of the city, places like Regensdorf (on the north side of the train/highway).

Horgen/Thalwil all good places, good train connections, sunny and the lake at walking distance.

Baden, on the other hand, is cheaper, has good connections to any swiss city and it has a quite large foreign population (ok, a lot of german, but even if they speak some kind of similar language, they are foreigner in Switzerland!)

Nonsense.

1/3 is the most that can be considered normal, typically I've paid 1/4-1/5, and lowest was 1/24!

Tom

I think in order to have your rental application accepted, you have to make at least 3x your rent per month in salary.

Would be crazy to spend a 1/3 on somewhere to live.

I pay 1/10 in Zurich. And still think it's too much.

Living alone is a luxus and outside the median behavior of the population!

In Züri?

Then you are either making a lot or living in a shithole. Or both.

How is it that people who "don't mean to offend" invariably say offensive and often untrue things? I was not asking your opinion and my apartment has increased by 40% in value since it was bought in 2011. Not theoretical value either, my neighbours who moved out because their place got too small for the new addition to the family sold their place quickly and easily.

ETA: I am aware that prices have gone up everywhere and that this is not an indicator of desirability, but if it was as terrible as all that, people would not buy places here, they would only rent. It suits my needs and those of many others.

We paid 15% of income in Zurich.

The price rise is a symptom of loose monetary policy and population increase rather than necessarily being an indicator of desirability.

A rising tide lifts all boats.