On a British pension, it certainly seems like it. Thank Goodness we live in the Jura where property prices are very low and close to the border so we can eat and shop in France.

Not sure if it has been answered before, but the entry is totally justified if you are relatively well off and need things such as
-a car (much more expensive than Switzerland, even local cars aren't cheap and registration fees are insane in some cities)
-a decent apartment (Rents are ok if you're not too picky, but modern city apartments in good locations are as expensive as CH)
-services (banking, insurance, health care etc, all very underdeveloped and expensive)
-electronics (originals, not knock-offs are much more expensive, even "Chinese" brands such as Lenovo, and the Chinese manufactured no-name stuff isn't exactly cheap either)
-healthy food (from Bio farms as the regular stuff from the market isn't exactly health, roughly same price as EU)

You can still survive on relatively little in China, but people forget how expensive the place is if you expect a certain standard, and I'm not talking about Western imported stuff here, just generally high quality products. Don't forget, mainlanders go to Hong Kong for a) clothes b) electronics c) health care as domestic products of the same quality are much more expensive.

edit: argh, old thread. What kind #°&% LiB brought that thread to life?

it's index of wages - costs. so geneva with higher salaries and higher costs might rank the same as miami if it has lower salaries but lower costs.

Not LiB - it was me what resuscitated it, sir!!!!!!

Sorry Leni, that stinks. I know, the bills here scare me too.

I guess what keeps me hanging on here and sort of refusing to leave, even though my spouse has a delightful job in the U.S. and my kids miss their big house, is all the things you don't pay for that I don't have across the pond.

That would be:

1). a great mix of locals and interesting people from around the world

2). amazing athletic opportunities, including the ability to do lots
of sports all year because the weather is more mild

3). a greater sense of personal safety/less violence around

4). the nicely behaved children at the public schools here/no bullying

5). easy access to well functioning public transportation

6). all the lovely villages and cities of Switzerland/Europe within striking distance

7). the opportunity to live in a beautiful village near pleasant shops, playground, beach, cafes

8). the opportunity to listen to and improve my French around every corner

9). a healthy pace of life

10). a mild climate

Now I just have to make some money

Yes, I love living here for many of the reasons you state, but can't help feeling a bit penalised for being single.(again).

Punishment from the gods of taxation and insurance........

The groan will have been from back then too - you can't thank/groan posts older than 1 month...

Unfortunately in a system that is geared towards married couples with children (staying together), single parents will get penalised. Especially the "carer" half.

I don't know. It is pretty easy to find lamb kebab in Lausanne or Yverdon...

... and Chavornay's rents and properties are much more reachable than Lausanne, and of course Zurich or Geneva!

Here's an example of what makes costs in Switzerland so high:



I saw four workmen had been sent to repair a single small shop awning this morning. The only activity was one guy holding the left end of it while the rest just standing there gawping. It didn't even look broken or damaged. And I think this is widely accepted by the natives.
No question normally about sky high bills. That would be too embarrasing to question the bill, it might imply that you don't know what the work entailled or heaven forbid that you can't really afford the bill.
In the above case I'm sure this inefficiency was covered by an insurance claim though so it doesn't matter as long as the task is completed no matter how long the job takes or how many people it takes to accomplish.

I guess it also helps with keeping unemployment down. Likewise the tme takes to complete roadworks that in the UK would take a third of the time (also creating less inconvenience for road users). The number of stretches of road or tram lines I've seen in Zurich that are reworked after the job seems to have been finally completed is bewildering.

Also the cost of parts and labour to mend something here in Switzerland (that would be viable in other countires)
mean that usually the item in question is cheaper to replace than to actually fix.

When I first came to Switzerland I was told if you get any workman to do work on your property they will always bring along an apprentice and charge you accordingly for both their time even for simple jobs.

Another example of how Switzerland is so costly...

'Art' works in the window of a Chemist. (in Zurich). Unbelievable. This meat hanging on display must've cost a small fortune. And it changes every month or so. Ridiculous. Why advertise that you are wealthy when you are a dispensary for medication?

Any other examples?

Because most Swiss businesses are run as hobbies by Swiss, whilst the grunt work gets done by expats like us/me.

They only need a hobby rather than a job as everyone is related to someone who founded a pharma company or a bank and has inhereted millions.

Overmanning is certainly a recurrent theme...

Attachment 29983

Of course, what really costs is the inability to agree what way to go in in the first place, the repeated changes and reversals of direction on the way with everyone ending up in entirely different places, followed by the interminable meetings and discussions afterwards, and finally the complete inability to reach a decision as to whether the experience was good or bad...

yes it is the more expensive country

If you live in Geneva or Zurich, it might seem like it. Especially if you are not on a Swiss style salary. There are parts of Switzerland where things are generally MUCH cheaper, especially rents/houses.

YES! I once had an electrician wire up a satellite dish and he brought an apprentice. I knew the young man was just learning the ropes and was helping him move wires around the furniture. Little did I know that the bill would include his wage!!! The original quote certainly DID NOT ... but when I got the bill I was duly charged for the apprentice too ... live and learn.

Coming from the US, I can say it is very hard to compare. My salary is double what I made in Florida, but my rent is double, so it is the same. But cable and cell phone is the same as the US, but since my salary is double I actually pay less for them in relation. Everything is relative. If you are converting US dollars, it's expensive, but yu have to compare you salary ratio of your Swiss salary vs your previous salary.

That's not a live and learn lesson, that's someone abusing you and you should have contested against it, you required 1 person, only 1 person comes, if he brings an apprentice, he pays him not you

This is Switzerland.

High electrician bill, is this right??
Why do I have to pay an electrician for Internet access

And from this very thread.
Is Switzerland most expensive country in the world!

This is Switzerland for foreigners, if you see a Swiss ordering a plumber or electrician, they get only 1 person and won't accept extra labour if the job doesn't require more hands.

You absolutely have the right to refuse extra labour if you see it's not required, no one can force you on this unless you just don't give a damn about it.

People seem to have the wrong image about Switzerland, you have the right to refuse anything if you see you're being abused....same as anywhere else, people not standing for their rights is their own problem not a Swiss national problem.

The only thing is, once you agreed on it, you pay....so you should decide before agreeing.......it's not rocket science

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