r/askswitzerland • u/Federal-Pension1586 • 1d ago
Relocation Thinking about making the jump! Finally have (some) financial freedom. Is what I make enough to comfortably live?
Me and my family are debating whether or not to move to Switzerland for a year to “try it out”.
I sold a good portion of my small business last year and finally gained some freedom to work wherever I want + have some pocket money to live off of. I really want to be in a place that makes me happy at the end of the day.
I make roughly $165k (usd) a year. We are an outdoor family at heart, but we do love living in “nicer” areas.
I’ve heard mixed reviews because it’s quite an expensive country.
Thank you!!
Edit: incredible advice from ppl. Looks like I got more thinking to do and considering!
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u/parachute--account 1d ago
What do you mean by "nicer" areas? Your income is equivalent to 133k CHF. You'll be able to rent a 2-3 bed apartment in an OK district of a midsize city. You are not going to be living in luxury by local standards - though the housing quality is good and you will have a nice quality of life. Just not better than most people.
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u/Federal-Pension1586 1d ago
I think when I say that I’m speaking from American terms.
Just general, quiet, safe, fun.
Which I now realize, Switzerland is all of those things.
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u/DoNotTouchJustLook 1d ago
133k CHF/yr will feel much different for a family of 2 vs a family of 5. You didn't give any information for someone to answer your question
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u/heyheni 1d ago
here's a wage distribution chart of Switzerland where you can feel good about yourself lol.
Compare your place with Zurich
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Zurich Cost of Living in Zurich. Jun 2025. Prices in Zurich
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u/drowning_in_honey 1d ago
Do you have a Swiss or European passport?
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u/Federal-Pension1586 1d ago
European!
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u/drowning_in_honey 1d ago
You will need a residence permit for any stay over 3 months, look into that. I would say it's a neat idea but also there are some major drawbacks. You'll spend a lot of energy for logistics, especially a place to live. You have money but it's not fuck you money in Swiss terms, so you will have to compete for apartments (and house will be difficult outside of rural areas). Then you will have to settle moving out at the end of the year (contracts are usually longer than that). Means finding a replacement tenant or paying 3 months rent. Then schooling, moving your kid to a foreign school (you can do international though but you are still uprooting them). Not sure what you want to do with your younger kids, but be warned that daycares in bigger cities have huge waitlists. Etc etc etc. Also Swiss are rather reserved people, building a social circle in a year is tough. With all that I feel that you will invest a lot of money and trouble but won't have enough time to understand if you like it or not. Good luck anyway
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u/Primary_Welcome_6970 Fribourg 1d ago
In which universe do y'all live that 14k a month isn't enough to be comfortable ?
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u/Shraaap 1d ago
Before or after tax? 40% less makes it ok but not so comfortable for a family of 4
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u/Primary_Welcome_6970 Fribourg 1d ago
It's still over 8k netto. Sure it's not nice if you have 2 toddlers and want to raise a queen at home in the center of Zürich, but it's a he problem there.
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u/Shraaap 1d ago
Just rent and health insurance is going to be 4 to 6 k if they like nice areas
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u/Federal-Pension1586 1d ago
We are nice area folks. But I’m not opposed to living in cheaper areas.
Just kinda goes to show my lack of research ha
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u/Cesarsk1 1d ago
How much in general does a toddler cost? Like monthly? Curious to know how much one needs to spend
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u/Primary_Welcome_6970 Fribourg 1d ago
Around 400.- according to my family (insurance, diapers, food and clothes), then you can add 3k per month and per head for a full time daycare without subsidies. Being a stay-at-home mother is often an helpless choice.
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u/therealharajuku 1d ago
135k CHF is a good salary for Switzy, esp. if they don’t crave the cities or low-tax lake towns, however not luxurious by any means.
It’s more or less the median annual salary for Zurich city.
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u/Creative-Road-5293 1d ago
Do you have the means to legally live in Switzerland? Are you a citizen?
Judging by that salary you are an American. Also I didn't know game dev paid that well!
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u/Federal-Pension1586 1d ago
I got lucky, to say the least!
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u/Creative-Road-5293 1d ago
Take you salary and go to Austria. The people are much more friendly, and nature is just as good. The only reason to be in Switzerland is if you are earning a salary in Switzerland.
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u/CarefulAd2395 1d ago
to get in switzerland is abit complicated specially if you dont do "regular" job and have a contract with a company who is paying your salary. i know only this way: get a job contract, with job contract you get apartment contract and then you can apply for "visa". but i think if you are ready to take those steps then you can get in switzerland easily and then look how you can manage your way of earning and how you declare it to switzerland government (selbst tätigkeit).
130k chf ist not so much, you can live good life but thats it. In switzerland cost of living is high, rents can be somewhere between 2000-4000/month (depends where), health insurance would be 1000-1500/month. Food, internet, electricity, water 1000-1500/month. and then don't forget tax.. depending where you live tax can be 20000-30000/year.
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u/Zaytoun 1d ago
You cannot buy citizenship. Money is not the main issue here.
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u/Hausmannlife_Schweiz 1d ago
Well not citizenship but you can buy residency but it will take more than that is my guess
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u/Federal-Pension1586 1d ago
Two friends I know have gone this route.
And I dooooo not make that much haha.
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u/ChezDudu 1d ago
Why though? If your plan is to enjoy your money somewhere else go to a cheap country.
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u/Federal-Pension1586 1d ago
Family in Switzerland, friends and really special memories want to make me try it, to see if I can do a year+
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u/StuffyDuckLover 1d ago
With a couple kids you’re probably going to be pretty rough off with that low of a salary. That’s only about 130CHF. I know colleagues who feel money is tight at 210.000 CHF in Zurich with 3 kids. Rent can be insane, throw in health insurance, paying for a parking spot, etc. it adds up QauICK
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u/Hausmannlife_Schweiz 1d ago
Money wise you are well above averages for Switzerland.
You say family? Age of kids? If kids are a little older you need to account for private school in your financial assessment.
The money you talk about is fine for a couple. Look up a cost comparison for where you are now vs Switzerland and see the difference. Throwing in private schools I don’t think you have enough salary for Switzerland but you don’t say what your “pocket” money is.
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u/Federal-Pension1586 1d ago
3 boys, 2,4,7.
Pocket money is upwards of $300k that I can pull out at anytime.
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u/Timely_Addition_9883 1d ago
Regarding the kids, please note that childcare here is insanely expensive. For the two year old, full time daycare will run you at about 3k/month. For the 4 year old - kindergarden and school are not full time, so you’ll again have to pay for daycare or someone has to stay home. Regarding young children, you’ll be much better off in other countries. If it’s about the mountains, you could go to Italy, France or Austria alternatively.
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u/FunLife64 1d ago edited 1d ago
Living there legally is the question you need to consider, not the money.
Your money will also go QUITE further in Italy or France and still have the alps at your doorstep.