Hi Liz! & advance-Welcome!

I also wondered what to bring from Canada to Switzerland & then a good friend mentioned that with the price of excess baggage fees ... I could buy all the same over here:-)) or equivalent... but then, I am ok with equivalent.

Happy packing!

I'm going to the States in September and I have a looong things of things to buy. People have told me that make up (Estée Lauder, i.e.) is cheaper in USA as well as the clothes.

But I also agree with Nomades (with the price of excess baggage fees you can buy all the same over here).

So make 50%: take from there the essential things and then buy the rest here :)

Almost welcome!!

Adriana

Things I still purchase in the US after being in CH for 3 years:

toothpaste

deodorant

aluminum foil

zip lock bags

baking soda

baking powder

vanilla paste

Old Bay seasoning(although I think the Ameican market in Cologny now has this)

shampoo and conditioner

Origins products

Clothes

Undergarments

Some things I buy  in the USbecasue they are nearly impossible to find and others because the cost is extremely high

Thank you all!

I can't tell you how helpful your information has been. Any pennies I can save, I will.

Best!

Liz

Makeup/Skin Cream/ Perfume is much more expensive than in the US, especially if you use a particular product .. 40-60% markup in some brands. Teeth whiteneing products..

Most other things are marked up, but not that much worth the trouble of bringing from the US, unless you have the space in a carton/crate or something.

Some weird things, I still prefer from the U.S. 4 years later:

Gum, Toothpaste, deoderant, nail polish remover

Bring as much as you can!!!!!!  I agree with what everyone says regarding toothpaste, shampoo etc. (I just paid 11CHF for hair gel that would cost $3 in the states).  You might also want to consider your favorite snacks as well.  I am not sure if you have a moving company or if you are moving yourself but if you have the room and there are any particular foods you eat regularly that you could bring pack them as well.  For example, my husband and I love these protien bars called Balance Bars.  They will keep for awhile so I wish I would have brought more.  To give you more examples, if you like crystal light, or peanut butter, or any snack that has peanut butter in it, basically anything packaged that you really enjoy or eat frequently will be impossible to find here or cost triple what you normally pay.  Hope this helps!!!  I have also ordered items off of drugstore.com.  They ended up being much more reasonable then buying the items in the stores (if you buy a lot) and they delivery to Geneva!  Hope that helps!

If you can't live without Kiehl's or Aveda, bring with you because the prices are prohibitive.  Many Sephora products can't be found here but you can get them on weekend trips to Paris or London. 

If you shop at all at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's for products like Dr. Bronner's soaps or Burt's Bees, bring those, too.

Extra baggage costs aside, you will be happy if you have what you like, especially the first 6 months or so while you are getting adjusted.

There are also lots of great things to discover here and we can help you more when you arrive!

Look forward to meeting you...

. . . and don't forget to pack some of your favorite Ben&Jerry's - maybe a dozen buckets just in case one or two should defrost by the time you do get here!

No seriously, they have a couple of American Market stores where you can get most of the junk food stuff (including Ben&Jerry'y - exept that its made in the UK), but unless its a high ticket item, I wouldn't lug stuff like tin foil half way around the world just to save a couple of bucks (you can get it here).  So maybe just concentrate on the high ticket and really and truly absolutely will kill for,  must have or die stuff.

Happy landing.

Thanks to everyone!

Good to know I can still chow down on my Ben and Jerry's, as well. :)

Looking forward to being in Switzerland soon!

Liz,

Are you looking for advice on what to carry on the plane, or on what to pack with your household effects?  Also, are you shipping a car?

Tinfoil - you should make a hat out of it! :)

A good idea would be to bring a supply of meds, vitamins, or dietary supplements you might be taking -- you might discover that here they require a doctor prescription, are much more expensive, or impossible to find at all, due to different regulations.

Hi Liz,

I have been here for 4 years and I would also add cold medication or pain reliever to your suitcase. It is harder to find here and expensive if you start to feel sick. When I pack from the states, I get rid of all excess pacakaging and boxes and stock up on deodorant, toothpaste and dryer sheets as well.

After awhile you will probably find brands that you'll like here too. Good luck!

Just bring an open mind and a stuffed wallet :-) 

I have been in Switzerland for 7 years now but still buy lots of meds and all of my jeans in the US. saves me a sweet 60%. ie true religion jeans in Switzerland between CHF 400 to CHF 600 in the US $ 200....

But most importantly bring an open mind and learn how to speak French as unfortunately so little expats do. It is really appreciated by the locals.

See you soon in Switzerland, welcome!

yep i totally second what sandro says about learning the local lingo. It is possible to get away with only speaking English here but it means you're trapped in the anglophone bubble, which sux! Also speaking French really helps when doing boring but important official things like dealing with the OCP or getting a tax refund. In addition many regie employees don't speak English so French is a kind of a must (or at least having a pal who speaks French) when you go appartment hunting.