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A data point for the higher end: Geneva (also, Zurich), CH. Currency is CHF which is almost 1:1 with USD. Rent 1500-2000 (one person apartment!) Food 500 (eat

A data point for the higher end: Geneva (also, Zurich), CH. Currency is CHF which is almost 1:1 with USD. Rent 1500-2000 (one person apartment!) Food 500 (eating at home, eating out is minimum 30/meal) Internet + smart phone w/ 3G: 150 Net salary after tax, health insurance, pension: 60,000 - 120,000 for a programmer.

loewenskind 16y ago
If you go with Orange on the phone you can get 35CFS/mo for phone + 3G. They have a deal going for 10CFS off per month of all plans. The high end for a programmer is higher if you consult, and there is no real downside to contracting in Switzerland.
- thomas11 16y ago
  Thanks for your additional information. I've been wondering about contracting/consulting since a while, but I'm not sure how to get started here. My mail is in my profile - I'd appreciate if we could exchange a few lines.
  - loewenskind 16y ago
    I'd rather talk on a site that has private chat, e.g. reddit.
    - preek 16y ago
      Mind if I join in? I'm also living in Zurich and have been evaluating contract work. Therefore I would be very interested in anything you would like to share on that topic.
      - loewenskind 16y ago
        Ok, what do you guys want to know? The easiest way is to find the job yourself and tell them that you'll be contracting. Then you can just get payroll done via some company (e.g. Harvey Nash who charges about 500 per time sheet. There are others but your costs here will probably be more like 800) or if not you can have your pick of agencies and negotiate the rate as low as you can. A lot of agencies will try to set their fee at 20%, but there are companies out there that will do 7% (more than payrolling but not bad). In Switzerland even consulting agencies have to deduct vacation from your check and pay it back when you actually take a vacation, but you should be able to sign a form to wave that away (i.e. get rid of that deduction and not get paid for vacation). Contract notice periods are usually one month. If you don't get extended and can't find another contract the normal unemployment rules apply (i.e. if you've worked for over a year you can begin drawing AHV immediately). I understand that according to swiss law you can switch contracting agencies at any time with no notice (the underlying contract has a one month notice period but who is carrying it can change during its lifetime).

loewenskind 16y ago

If you go with Orange on the phone you can get 35CFS/mo for phone + 3G. They have a deal going for 10CFS off per month of all plans. The high end for a programmer is higher if you consult, and there is no real downside to contracting in Switzerland.

thomas11 16y ago
Thanks for your additional information. I've been wondering about contracting/consulting since a while, but I'm not sure how to get started here. My mail is in my profile - I'd appreciate if we could exchange a few lines.
- loewenskind 16y ago
  I'd rather talk on a site that has private chat, e.g. reddit.
  - preek 16y ago
    Mind if I join in? I'm also living in Zurich and have been evaluating contract work. Therefore I would be very interested in anything you would like to share on that topic.
    - loewenskind 16y ago
      Ok, what do you guys want to know? The easiest way is to find the job yourself and tell them that you'll be contracting. Then you can just get payroll done via some company (e.g. Harvey Nash who charges about 500 per time sheet. There are others but your costs here will probably be more like 800) or if not you can have your pick of agencies and negotiate the rate as low as you can. A lot of agencies will try to set their fee at 20%, but there are companies out there that will do 7% (more than payrolling but not bad). In Switzerland even consulting agencies have to deduct vacation from your check and pay it back when you actually take a vacation, but you should be able to sign a form to wave that away (i.e. get rid of that deduction and not get paid for vacation). Contract notice periods are usually one month. If you don't get extended and can't find another contract the normal unemployment rules apply (i.e. if you've worked for over a year you can begin drawing AHV immediately). I understand that according to swiss law you can switch contracting agencies at any time with no notice (the underlying contract has a one month notice period but who is carrying it can change during its lifetime).