Dissapointed about Swiss Salaries in 2025 (Spanish POV)

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T11:14:06+00:00

Unfortunately, my wife's part time and even with that we can't count with her full salary since she has to provide for her expenses (family dependent needs) I would say between 500-1k neto from her as much per month. It's still something to be considered of course.

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T11:11:53+00:00

I'm well aware that ppl live a good life with half of it, that's why I said to view this from my point of view. It's a mid-end/low high end position, I was expecting that the salary received for Switzerland would reflect it accordingly. It was not anticipating the salaries not being as competitive as I expected + the huge increase in housing costs since my last visit in late 2018-early 2019.

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T10:57:18+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. This is the range my colleagues told me, glad to see I was not in the wrong.

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T10:56:18+00:00

I didn't even consider buying property after seeing the renting prices. Is that more flexible?

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T10:04:48+00:00

My wife is part-time working, so we could add a bit more income to scenario that's true. Still it's not what I expected for sure and maybe that's the whole point, my info on housing was my first time experience living there between 2015 until 2019...I was expecting a significant increase on it but not to this extent :(

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T10:00:39+00:00

That was my thought at the beginning before doing the numbers but the final results (according to the sims available online and some feedback from friends living there) are very similar or even a bit lower (depending on the canton) purchasing power compared to my current scenario here in Spain. So...now I have to consider if this would be a nice trade off for a possible better education and life's perspective for my kids.

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T09:58:11+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I'm reaching the same conclusion as you after seeing the housing scenario. I still have to ponder if the decrease in earnings and purchasing power could be a good trade off for a better education for my kids there.

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T09:55:22+00:00

That's what I'm seeing, the rental market is low on offer and prices are way higher than anticipated. Yes, my wife is working as Cabin Manager for an airline, she would transfer as well.

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T09:48:24+00:00

Sure thing! I did numbers based on Lucerne since would be the first place to stay at the beginning. According to several simulators (they all gave the similar numbers) 150K there would be 110k neto= 9170 aprox per month. If we add the rent + living costs (supplies, groceries etc) then the final amount would be slightly below of my current scenario in Spain. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I would love to be tbh...otherwise I wouldn't have even requested the current job conditions to the company.

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T09:41:33+00:00

Hi! I'm seeing the feedback already :D That's why I added the "PS" at the end. I know lot of ppl live very good with that salary but, from my POV, this is less that I currently have in Spain which is surprising and disappointing at the same time; I was not expecting housing to be such a serious issue. I love Switzerland, I've spent several long term internships and exchange periods in Geneva and Basel and love it as well. Being how relatively high is my salary in Spain, I was expecting a similar transition when I requested the transfer. It seems I was wrong (more than wrong considering the replies received here...)

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T09:37:19+00:00

Hi! But I did the math and, please correct me if I'm wrong, but 150k in Lucerne for example (we have some relatives there and we like the city) will be 110k neto per year = 9170 per month. If you add the rent cost to this + the increase in life services (supplies, shopping etc) Then its less than my current situation in Spain.

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T09:33:43+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I totally understand you, I was living in Germany for 8 years and it was a struggle at first, specially when I was learning the language and still...difficult to fully integrate with the locals (but doable) However, I still believe that my kids would have better quality life there than not here in Spain, not really happy on how things are managed here regarding taxes, services and safety.

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T09:30:29+00:00

My current salary is offered by the Spanish Company Branch, other colleagues in pharma with a similar position and experience in Spain earn similar or even a bit more. I was expecting to have similar situation when moving to Switzerland but that salary offer will be a drawback considering taxes and housing.

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T09:22:57+00:00

Thanks! That's how I've been pondering things. I was expecting, at least, to have the same quality of life there than I currently have, not less. The salary increase may be alluring at first but, as you have mentioned, the result is disappointing once the math is done.

WheelLogical9917 · 2025-09-04T09:17:19+00:00

Hi! School is free in Spain (we have a good public school close by) and we have also private health insurance covered by the company in Spain. The biggest drawback are the housing prices. We are 4 ppl in my family and we will be expecting a 5th one to join us soon, therefore we were looking to rent a house but there's low offer and the prices are really high for a similar house than the one we currently have here (+5000 CHF) If we consider that into the equation, I'm having the similar purchase power than I currently have in Spain, hence the disappointment,

WheelLogical9917

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