Would you move to Zurich?

[Zurick]

DH may have the opportunity to move to Zurich for work . We have two DC (3 and 1) and they’d likely go to an international school.

For those who have moved there or visited, would you move there? For background he is Swiss but lives in England with us!

If the job is very well paid.. then yes. Will you be working? Do you speak Swiss German? Have you visited? The quality of life in Switzerland is high, but so are costs. If you live comfortably in England and are happy with your lifestyle and will earn at least twice that in Swotzerland (I would argue maybe even two and a half... ) then I think that would be fine.

The reality of finding work for you, will be challenging if you do not already have a job that will move with you. The long term implications of that are worth seriously considering.

Why would you choose international school if your children will grow up in Switzerland? (My kids went to International school in Switzerland... but we live in France and are unlikely to be here long term.)

Thank you for the reply. I have visited many times and do like it!

International school is for language at the start and that eventually we may move back here.

My children don’t understand German. I can speak high German but not Swiss.

Regarding work, I currently do not work so that is unlikely to change when there.

The cost of living!

I do have friends who moved to Switzerland with children of similar ages. Their children went through the Swiss state system and they are very happy with it.

international schools are not cheap.

Yes but similar price to the pre-preps they’d go to in London (as in the international schools) and we are very aware the cost of living is higher.

Our neighbours moved there for a few years-it was very expensive and they came back again. I think it messed about with the DC’s friendships and education though-the times they went seemed to really affect friendship groups and the DC struggled to settle when they got there and same again when they moved back.

That is so helpful to know - I was thinking along those lines as well.

For background I have also never lived abroad. And all family here.

We did. Would you have school funded as their fees are eye-watering otherwise. Likewise general cost of living, better quality of life comes at a price and you need insurance for everything. There are also lots of local rules about issues such as recycling, what you can and can’t do on Sundays and bank holidays and use of running water during lunch periods and overnight , with fines for misdemeanours. Will there be family in the area otherwise you risk being in an expat bubble which can make for transient friendships.

I’d do it in a heartbeat as long as the pay package is good enough for housing, school fees and to have a comfortable life. Think of it as an adventure and, at your kids ages, I wouldn’t worry about friendship issues.

However do make sure the package includes enough to pay into your uk pension.

Gruetzi! Do you like it there? They wouldn’t pay for fees but the fees are the same as we’d pay where we currently are. We would live not super close to family (they’d be in the same canton but not close) due to personal preference on location but the area we are looking at (would be very outing if I wrote) seems quite local and international so a good mix.

That’s a good point on pension! Thank you.

We moved back when dd started Reception as two in IS was unsustainable. At the time fees were 28000chf! For ds it was a big jump from grade 1 to uk year 3. There are now more bilingual options. We enjoyed living there but it was never likely to be longterm and the lifestyle became increasingly unaffordable if we had moved to a local contract. Do you or your dc have Swiss nationality? Most expat trailing spouses do not work.

The prep school near us is around that. Although very outing! He does, as do the kids. I do not.
edit - he’d be on a local contact.

If you have enough money, Switzerland is great! Being able to shrug off Unexpected costs and not flinching when you receive another grey enveloppe, has advantages!

In my experience, people who are happy to make the move and embrace the adventure, settle most easily. I met one woman who came, and left.. she said 'The Swiss are relaxed about nothing' and she really hated it.. so moved back on her own with her children.

The population density of Switzerland is much lower than England, the greater Zurich has a population of 2m compared to London's 9m.. which results in something feeling 'Swiss'... nice, well organised and sometimes underwhelming.. but I love this!!!

I know a few families who came here expecting to feel rich, but to find that they are not as rich as they were in London, Copenhagen or elsewhere.

I would also say that international schools are unlikely to come up to the standards of similar priced schools in London. That said, my kids have been very happy going through international school.

Yes, there are rules, traditions, somethings that feel old fashioned, people will tell you when have done something wrong... but these are also some of the best things about Switzerland.

There are lots of foreigners and if your husband is Swiss, you will find it easier to make local connections.

For young children, I feel that there are fewer organised activities, families tend to do things together and at home, rather than the huge selection of activities available elsewhere.