🏔️ Pros and Cons of Living in Switzerland | Immigration to Switzerland

Summary

In this video, the speaker reflects on their experience living in Switzerland, comparing it to other countries they've lived in like Mexico, Canada, Germany, and the UK. They highlight Switzerland's cleanliness, safety, punctuality, and beautiful nature as major positives. The speaker also appreciates the high minimum wage and relatively low taxes. However, they mention the high cost of living, expensive services, reserved nature of locals, and high health insurance costs as downsides. Despite some challenges, they find life in Switzerland rewarding, especially with the work-life balance and financial savings.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The speaker has lived in multiple countries including Mexico, Canada, Germany, and the UK, providing a comparative perspective on living in Switzerland.
• 🏔 The speaker's first impression of Switzerland was overwhelmingly positive, noting its cleanliness, beauty, and friendly people.
• 🏙️ Switzerland is considered very clean and organized, ranking among the top three in Europe alongside Luxembourg and Norway.
• 🚸 The country is safe, with little crime, and it's rare to see homeless people or beggars.
• 🚄 Swiss public transportation is highly reliable and punctual, even more so than in Germany.
• 💧 Cold water is free in Switzerland, and there are public fountains for drinking.
• 🏞️ Switzerland offers stunning natural beauty with mountains and lakes, and it's centrally located in Europe for easy travel.
• 💰 The minimum wage is high at 25 Swiss Franks per hour, and the tax rates are relatively low, except in Geneva.
• 💸 Switzerland is expensive with services like haircuts costing around 25 Swiss Franks and public transport tickets being pricey.
• 🤐 Swiss people are described as introverted and not very open to foreigners, making it difficult to make local friends.
• 🏥 Health insurance is mandatory and can be expensive, costing around 300 Swiss Franks per month.

Q & A

What are some of the positive aspects of living in Switzerland mentioned in the video?

Switzerland is very clean, safe, with low crime rates, and has well-organized public transport. The country also offers free cold water and has beautiful nature with mountains and lakes. Additionally, the salaries are high, and the taxation system is favorable in most cantons.

What are some of the negative aspects of living in Switzerland discussed in the video?

Switzerland is quite expensive, with high costs for services like haircuts and public transport. The people can be introverted and not very open to foreigners, making it hard to make local friends. Health insurance is also expensive, and there can be a work-centric culture that may lead to a loss of motivation over time.

How does the cleanliness of Switzerland compare to other European countries?

The speaker considers Switzerland to be one of the top three cleanest countries in Europe, alongside Luxembourg and Norway.

What is the speaker's personal experience with the Swiss people's openness?

The speaker finds Swiss people to be introverted and not very communicative, especially in smaller cantons. They mention that most of their friends in Switzerland are foreigners or immigrants like themselves.

How does the speaker describe the work culture in Switzerland?

The speaker describes a work-centric culture where people tend to focus heavily on work, which can lead to a loss of motivation and enthusiasm over time.

What is the minimum wage per hour in Switzerland according to the video?

The minimum wage per hour in Switzerland is about 25 Swiss Franks.

How does the video describe the availability of organic products in Switzerland?

The video states that there is a lot of organic produce and products available in Switzerland, much more than in any other European country the speaker has been to.

What is the speaker's opinion on the cost of living in Switzerland?

The speaker finds Switzerland to be quite expensive, with high costs for services, groceries, rents, and health insurance.

What is the speaker's view on the public transport system in Switzerland?

The speaker praises the Swiss public transport system as being very well-organized and reliable, with trains that are famous for running on time.

How does the speaker compare the Swiss lifestyle to their experiences in other countries?

The speaker compares the Swiss lifestyle favorably to other countries in terms of safety, cleanliness, and job opportunities, but notes that the cost of living and the introverted nature of Swiss people are downsides.

What was the speaker's first impression of Switzerland when they visited over 20 years ago?

The speaker's first impression was very positive, noting the beauty of the country, the nice weather, the mountains, and the friendly people.

Outlines

00:00

🗺️ Introduction to Living in Switzerland

The speaker begins by expressing their excitement to discuss the pros and cons of living in Switzerland, a topic suggested by viewers. They mention their own experiences living in various countries, including Mexico, Canada, Germany, and the UK, which allows them to make comparisons. The speaker's first visit to Switzerland over 20 years ago left a strong impression due to its cleanliness, beautiful landscapes, and friendly people. Despite initial language barriers and self-doubt, their positive first impressions of Switzerland have persisted over the years.

05:12

🏞️ Positive Aspects of Swiss Life

The speaker highlights several positive aspects of living in Switzerland. They praise the country's cleanliness, safety, and well-organized public services. They note the rarity of homelessness and crime, contributing to a sense of security. The speaker also appreciates the punctuality and reliability of Swiss public transport. Additionally, they mention the availability of free cold water and the beauty of Swiss nature, with its mountains and lakes. The ease of travel within Europe from Switzerland is also a point in favor, along with the high minimum wage and relatively reasonable taxation, depending on the canton.

10:18

💸 The Cost of Living and Social Dynamics in Switzerland

The speaker discusses the higher cost of living in Switzerland, including expensive services like haircuts and public transport tickets. They advise being smart about grocery shopping to save money, noting the availability of organic products. The speaker also touches on the reserved nature of Swiss people, making it difficult to make local friends, in contrast to their experiences in more outgoing cultures like Mexico. They describe Swiss people as introverted and sometimes seemingly arrogant, especially in smaller cantons. The speaker also mentions the high cost of health insurance and the work-centric culture, which can lead to a loss of motivation over time.

Keywords

💡Switzerland

Switzerland is a country in Europe known for its neutrality, natural beauty, and high standard of living. In the video, the speaker discusses their personal experiences and observations about living in Switzerland, highlighting both the pros and cons of residing there. The country serves as the central theme of the video, with the speaker comparing it to other countries they have lived in.

💡Pros and Cons

Pros and cons refer to the positive and negative aspects of a situation. The video is structured around listing the advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) of living in Switzerland. The speaker shares their personal pros such as cleanliness, safety, and job opportunities, and cons like high cost of living and reserved nature of the locals.

💡Cleanliness

Cleanliness refers to the state of being clean. The video mentions that Switzerland is very clean, which is a positive aspect of living there. The speaker compares it favorably to other European countries, indicating that the cleanliness is part of what makes Switzerland an attractive place to live.

💡Safety

Safety in this context refers to the security and low crime rate in Switzerland. The speaker mentions that it is safe to walk around, even at night, and that crime such as theft and assault is rare. This sense of safety contributes to the overall positive living experience in the country.

💡Public Transport

Public transport refers to the system of transport services available to the public, such as buses and trains. The video praises the punctuality and reliability of Swiss public transport, which is a significant part of the country's infrastructure and contributes to the ease of living there.

💡Organized

Being organized means having a systematic arrangement or structure. The speaker describes Switzerland as an organized country, which is evident in its cleanliness, public transport system, and overall efficient functioning. This organization contributes to the positive living experience.

💡Expensive

Expensive refers to the high cost of goods or services. The video lists the high cost of living as a negative aspect of living in Switzerland, with examples such as haircuts, public transport tickets, and groceries being costly. This is a significant factor to consider for anyone thinking of moving to Switzerland.

💡Health Insurance

Health insurance is a type of insurance coverage that pays for medical expenses. In the video, the speaker mentions that health insurance in Switzerland is expensive, costing around 300 Swiss Franks per month. This is a financial consideration for residents and impacts the overall cost of living.

💡Introverted

Introverted, in the context of the video, refers to the reserved and less outgoing nature of the Swiss people. The speaker finds it difficult to make friends with locals due to their introverted nature, which is a cultural characteristic that contrasts with the more open and friendly demeanor they experienced in other countries like Mexico.

💡Minimum Wage

Minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily, or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. The video highlights the relatively high minimum wage in Switzerland, which is a positive aspect as it ensures a decent standard of living for workers, regardless of their job type.

💡Taxation

Taxation refers to the compulsory levy imposed by a governmental authority to raise revenue for public expenditures. The video discusses the taxation system in Switzerland, noting that while it varies by canton, it is generally favorable compared to other countries. This is an important consideration for residents as it affects their disposable income.

Highlights

The video discusses the pros and cons of living in Switzerland based on personal experience.

The speaker has lived in multiple countries, allowing for a comparative perspective on life in Switzerland.

Switzerland was first visited over 20 years ago, leaving a strong positive impression.

Switzerland is noted for its cleanliness and organization, ranking highly in Europe.

The country is safe, with little crime and rare instances of homelessness or begging.

Public transportation in Switzerland is efficient and reliable.

Water is freely available in Switzerland, both in homes and public fountains.

Switzerland's natural beauty, with mountains and lakes, is a highlight of living there.

The country's central location in Europe allows for easy travel to neighboring countries.

Switzerland offers high minimum wages and relatively low income tax rates.

The cost of living in Switzerland is high, with services such as haircuts being notably expensive.

Swiss people are described as introverted and not very open to foreigners.

Health insurance in Switzerland is expensive, costing around 300 Swiss Franks per month.

The work culture in Switzerland is described as focused and sometimes leading to a lack of motivation.

Rents and car insurance are high, especially in larger cities.

Despite some negatives, life in Switzerland is generally considered good, with a strong social safety net.

The weather can be a downside, with too much rain and depressive periods in some seasons.

Making friends is crucial for a positive experience in Switzerland.

Transcripts

Hello guys toas is here I hope you're all doing  well in today's video I'm going to talk about  

pros and cons of living in Switzerland as already  few of you asked me in the comments below other  

videos that I made about uh life in Switzerland  to make a video about uh positives and negatives  

of living here in Switzerland so um I think I  already have enough experience uh or I spend  

enough time here in Switzerland and also before  I moved to Switzerland I lived in other countries  

I lived in Mexico uh I lived in Canada I lived in  Germany I lived in the UK so I can compare also um  

those countries and I can give you reasons why uh  I moved to Switzerland and why I chose Switzerland  

actually I visited Switzerland first time in my  life uh more than uh 20 years ago um and when I  

saw this country for the first time it was long  time ago yeah let's say 20 more than 20 years ago  

um Switzerland was a bit different than it is now  there was uh less foreigners let's say it the way  

it is um and the country was so so beautiful my  first impressions were like wow I arrived to the  

Eastern Switzerland canton Sankt Gallen and canton  Thurgau out it was summer the weather was nice and  

mountains everywhere it was beautiful and people  were very nice I spent uh more than a month uh in  

Switzerland at that time and I was like wow this  country is really nice I like it here I spoke uh  

German but not too well and somehow I thought okay  this country is too good too good to be through or  

too good for me or I wasn't confident enough in  terms of uh saying yeah I would like to move move  

here uh maybe actually the German was the the  problem at that time uh it wasn't good enough  

I knew English and some other languages maybe  I thought I want to explore other parts of the  

world and not Switzerland in terms of uh settling  so yeah I lived uh after that in other countries  

but anyway let's go back to Switzerland um why I  like Switzerland and what are the the positives  

about living here the Switzerland is very clean  very clean country also if you compare it with  

the other countries in Europe I mean in the top  three for me personally in Europe in terms of  

cleanliness and how everything is organized and  nice um there I would put Switzerland Luxemburg  

and Norway uh in Europe so um Switzerland is  there for me yeah it's it's very clean country  

nice uh you almost don't see homeless people in  Switzerland of course there are homeless people  

here but uh maybe there is not that many of them  maybe they are better looked after um you don't  

see them um in some count at all or beggars or  things like that it's very very rare uh I saw  

some beg but they are from other countries they  are from Romania they come here and to back um  

yeah so so the country is clean safe safe yeah you  can uh walk in Switzerland in anywhere in also at  

night also if you're are a woman um there's a very  little uh amount of uh crime where people would  

attack you or want to uh burglar your house or  steal something from your pickpocket things like  

that they are not an issue here at all I think  it's partly because um officially quarter of the  

population of Switzerland are foreigners and uh  actually in reality it's even more um than 25%  

and these people are here with their permits they  don't have Swiss passport yet they are on B or C  

permit and they are behaving yeah they don't want  to cause themselves any trouble so it's similar  

like in the US everyone is driving slowly no one  wants to be checked by the by the police when  

they drive because there's a lot of illegals and  they don't want to be deported so in Switzerland  

people are not here illegally and mainly they are  um not citizens they are residents and they don't  

want to lose that status because their goal is  to become citizens one day so um yes Switzerland  

is uh uh very safe uh everything runs on time  even better than in Germany their trains you  

know that this is famous they are uh on time you  can rely on them the public transport is very well  

organized it uh it is it is good it's very good  um in the shops everything is always available  

you know um nice thing is for example water here  cold water is actually free you don't pay for cold  

water when you are um when you have an apartment  and you use cold water it's free you can also  

get it on the streets you know there are fountains  and you can drink it and also air is free here but  

that's about it uh there's not much else uh that  I could remember that it's free in Switzerland and  

yeah and the nature yeah the nature beautiful  it's beautiful there are there are there's  

lots of um lots of mountains lots of lakes  lots of beauty around in summer in Winter  

you are in the center of Europe you are close  to France Germany Austria uh Italy and by the  

train you get there very very fast you know  uh Switzerland is not that big so it is uh  

uh uh also easy to travel from here to other  places uh so these are the positives that came  

to my mind right now and then some negatives  oh another positive um the salaries you know  

the the minimum wage per hour here is about 25  Swiss Franks so you're making 25 Swiss Franks  

no matter what you're doing uh any manual job  so I find that very good also their taxation  

um here it's uh is quite good it depends on the  Canton where you live um how high will be your  

income tax um but yeah it's not high it's not  that high except maybe the highest is the C of  

Geneva but um other cantons like lern streets uh  up andell Etc gra in then they have low tax so  

taxes are good here okay what are the negatives  yeah I would say Switzerland is quite expensive  

um services for example a haircut for a for  for a male uh around 25 Swiss Franks and more  

uh public transport tickets are also not cheap  um groceries uh you have to be smart you know  

there are is lots of supermarkets and if you want  to save and you don't want to overspend you go to  

ALDI little and you shop there you know and if you  don't care about money then you go to cop and to  

Manor and to other places where the groceries are  more expensive um also I find very good that there  

is a lot of organic uh produce organic uh products  uh groceries available here in Switzerland a lot  

much more than in any other European country  where I be so if you like to eat organic yeah  

it's all available for you um how the negatives  yeah the people you know I lived I lived in South  

America and people are very nice there especially  in Mexico very friendly they talk to you they're  

open they're nice uh here in Switzerland people  are introverts people are closed people don't  

talk to you good the good thing is they speak  English almost everyone knows English but they  

are introverted and they are maybe a little bit  afraid of foreigners especially in some smaller  

cantons in the mountains you know um yeah so it's  hard to make friends here with the locals uh most  

of my friends here are actually foreigners or too  like immigrants like me so yeah Swiss people are  

inters not so open not so communicative yeah a  little bit weird even in some cantons I experience  

they a little bit like seem arrogant you know  when they uh even when they walk by they like  

not giving you space and sometimes they can be  very loud on the trains like they learn like  

when you are loud I mean if you are on the phone  and they it happened to me people complain like  

you are talking too loud I'm not talking too loud  I'm just talking like if I was there with someone  

talking not loud just normally so we hear each  other but Swiss people come on when they get like  

two of them three four oh my God and even like  older people they are so noisy on the train they  

they behave like they're in a in a pub they really  they are loud they will just talk shout over each  

other like there was no one else um but uh I  think people don't see that or they don't want  

to talk about it um uh what other the ne negatives  yeah the the health insurance health insurance is  

expensive here it will cost you around 300 Franks  every month you have to pay from your own pocket  

no matter what you like it or not you have to pay  that uh from your own money uh yeah what other NE  

Ives you know Swiss they just work work work  they like to work I mean when you come here at  

the beginning maybe you will enjoy and you will be  not like that or you won't feel it but after a few  

years uh it happens to many people they start to  just they lose the motivation they are a little  

bit not so enthusiastic they just work too much  everything is around the money to pay the bills  

but the positive thing is that here I can compare  it with other countries where I lived uh you make  

more money than elsewhere than most of the in  most of the countries as an employee and you  

after paying all your bills you save and you keep  uh much more than anywhere else um the negative  

is also the rents rents are high especially in  big cities um so is Insurance uh of your car and  

stuff like that to buy a car is actually not that  bad it's not that expensive when you're buying a  

when you're leing it or when you're buying an  used car um what other negatives sorry guys I  

don't have a list I didn't prepare this I'm  just taking from my from top of my head uh  

talking from top of my head so I'm trying to be  authentic um yeah but overall the life is good  

here I mean it's good uh sometimes the weather  is actually not so nice like this year it's  

too much rain uh yeah there are four seasons  here uh but sometimes it rains too much also  

in Winter and yeah it's a bit depressive but  there's nothing like England um yeah so when  

you come to Switzerland and you make friends that  you will be fine because this is the only negative  

that people to be honest all right guys let me  know what what uh what do you think uh what is  

your experience of living in Switzerland  what other negatives and positives would  

you add to this uh list and I hope this video  gave you some ideas about how Switzerland is I  

hope it helped I hope you enjoyed enjoyed it um  I would be very happy if you give me a like and  

watch some other of my videos and share them  and subscribe and all that thank you so much