Hey Li!

Welcome (soon) to Geneva. You're coming to a great place. The beginning is likely to be hard - like a move to any other city - but after you settle down a bit, it's really a nice city.

Per the questions you asked:

Salaries
All depends on your life style, but I'd say you need min CHF 5000 / month to live OK (but nothing wild). I think I heard somewhere the minimum salary here is around CHF 3500, and the average salary is around CHF 6000.

Rent prices
Again, all depends on where. But typical prices:
- 1 bedroom: 1200 / month
- 2 bedroom: 2000 / month

Finding apartments
That is a real bitch around here. The market is real tight, and finding a place is hard. Begin early, and prepare yourself for a potential long search and some compromises.

Meeting people
Just join the Member-Activities on glocals, and you'll be OK...(-:

So when you coming down here, and what brings you here?

Nir

Geneva can be expensive, but definitely not more than London. You can get a decent two bed room apartment in a reasonable location for 2500 CHF. Food is average if you eat at home most of the time, if you eat out on regular basis, it gets hefty. The problem with the housing is not the price alone but the availability. Schools are ridiculously expensive unless they are public. You will have to learn where and when to shop for items that can wait, their sales are real and you can get good bargains. There is a large English speaking community and it is quite possible to meet people. I work full time and have small kids, so meeting people is a luxury I can not afford.

I lived in London and in Geneva for fairly long times, my take: we are going back to the US!!

Good luck, it is not that bad.

Hi,

I'd have to say that I would disagree that its more expensive than London. I'm really struggling to think of anything that's cheaper here... Rent is maybe equivalent if you're prepared to share but for a 1 bed its more 9and probably smaller than you're used to). However your commute will probably be much less as Geneva is very small.

Food is considerably more expensive, in or out. Also, much like neighbouring France there is a real dearth (sp?) of M&S type ready meals. People here very much tend to cook from scratch. And there's no Deliverance either. Delivery food is pretty much non existent (there is some but v little).

Other boring things like Insurance is much more expensive and if you have a car I'd bring it as they're also a lot more (partic 2nd hand).

I could go on, but you get the idea. Having said all that I'm very glad I moved here. I have a young family and we live by the lake and its stunning. You also get a real summer (think 3 months of 25c plus) and a real winter (hello ski season). My firm relocated here en masse and I would say all those with families are very pleased with the move. The younger guys (single mid 20's-30's) are less sure as the nightlife sucks big time compared to London and is v pricy.

Hope that helps

Thank you for the replies, much appreciated...

I am looking fwd to moving there and making some new friends...

Thanks again..

Hi Everyone

I guess I am touching upon the same query again; however, due to multiple views, am a bit confused. I will be working in Geneva starting Jan and will be getting accomodation as part of my job. Would anyone know what would be the living cost for a single guy? - basic stuff to include groceries, travel, once in a while eating out etc

From the posts, it seems that pretty much everything except friends are expensive :)

Cheers

vasanth

Hi everyone

I am also moving to Geneva in January, and thankfully found a place to live. But does anyone know how parking works in the centre? Does one need a permit for street parking, if so how much is it, or is it possible to street park without a permit? Does it pay off to rent a parking space, and does anyone know where one might find one?

regards

Birgitte

Since the Queen's British Pound is worth about as much as toilet paper these days, you are going to find everything excrutiatingly expensive if you compare it with Britain.  The only way to keep your sanity is just start to rebudget once you get here based on your Swiss salary; people do manage. Certain things seem to be okay value (eg electronics seems to be broadly okay) but many things are wildly out of line with the rest of the world.

The whole cost issue is too wide to really generalise but if you budget for double the cost for food that you would expect then you may just have a pleasant surprise.  Petrol is cheaper here, thats pretty much the only thing I can think of!  I seem to remember ordering 3 pizzas here from a very plain looking joint  (even had to collect them) and it costing about 60 francs.....

Here is a list of our expenses PER MONTH:

Rent: CHF 3500 (we have a lovely, furnished, 2 bed place).  Other friends pay CHF 2500/2700 for a 2 bed in centre of town

Cleaner: CHF 25 per hour

Fast Internet and phoneline: CHF 125

Bilag (see sep posts but basically you have to pay this): CHF 38.50

Electric: CHF 125 (This is estimated each month.  No idea what everyone else pays.  We do not pay anything for heating)

House contents insurance: CHF 30

Bus/tram ticket for all of Geneva: CHF 70

Car: We have a 2 year old Ford Focus ST on 4 year lease.  The lease, Taxes, Insurance, one tank of petrol = CHF 650 per month

Food prices: Pizza in restaurant 20-25 CHF, Diet Coke CHF 4.   Two pork chops from supermarket CHF 9.  A whole chicken from supermarket, frequently sold for CHF 16 (or more), sometimes get for 10 CHF.

Healthcare: Approx CHF 500 per month for female. (My husband's work pays for his).  You could maybe get this slightly cheaper.

Things are expensive when compared to London, but your wages should be higher.  We are financially better off here than in London.

Hope this helps