Switzerland is a technologically developed and materially rich country located in the western part of Europe. It has a small area and insignificant volumes of minerals. At the same time, most of the country is occupied by picturesque mountains. Nevertheless, from the point of view of the economy, the state is among the ten world leaders. The country is also known for its neutral status, reliable jars, delicious chocolate and cheese, versatile knives, as well as the best watches in the world. Some residents of the former Soviet Union leave for Switzerland forever. Today we will consider the pros and cons of life in Switzerland.
A bit about nature
Of course, the nature of Switzerland is picturesque, because the state is in the heart of the Alps. The country’s territory is divided into three zones: the plateau, the Alps and the Jura Mountains. Landscapes of the Swiss Alps, among which there are limestone peaks, crystal ridges, mirror-clear lakes and much more, attract tourists from all over the world. However, solely for the sake of nature, they do not move to this country for permanent residence. In Switzerland there is something to see and where to go on vacation, but this is not its main advantage.
Switzerland: living standards
Today the country is one of the most expensive in the world. This is especially true for cities such as Geneva and Zurich, which retain this title in global international comparison. At the same time, the standard of living in Switzerland has always been and will be high. If we calculate the standard of living based on net income, then Switzerland will be the third in Europe. This is evidenced by recent statistics. Net income means the amount that remains with residents after payment of all mandatory payments. Only citizens of Norway and Luxembourg can boast a larger amount of net income.
The average life expectancy in Switzerland, according to recent estimates, is 82.2 years. In Russia, it is lower by 11.8 years, and in Ukraine - by 11.3 years.
Thus, despite the high price level (more on this, a little lower), the situation of the population is much more favorable than in neighboring European countries. Another fact illustrating the high standard of living in Switzerland is the number of citizens living below the poverty line, which is constantly decreasing.
Migrants
Systematically, the number of foreigners living in the country is increasing and approaching 25%. At the beginning of 2015, the country noted a bright event - population growth per 100 thousand people per year. At the same time, the lion's share, namely 60% of the increase, was provided by immigrants. Mostly people move here from Italy, France, Germany and Portugal. The immigration process has reached such proportions that the country's authorities had to tighten the rules of entry into the country. The current situation began to bother the locals. Therefore, they actively supported the tightening of the rules for admission of immigrants.
Russians in Switzerland
Until 1990, the Russian community practically did not exist in a country like Switzerland. Russian life in Switzerland began to sharply gain popularity by 1995. According to statistics, at that time 5 thousand Russians moved to permanent residence in Switzerland. By 2007, this figure has doubled. And in 2016, according to official information, it increased to 22 thousand people. Meanwhile, according to unofficial data from the newspaper “Russian Switzerland”, in 2016 the number of Russian-speaking immigrants in Switzerland amounted to about 40 thousand. These statistics cover representatives of the entire post-Soviet space. If we estimate the number of Russian immigrants relative to the overall migration pattern, then their number is approximately 1% of the migration flow.
Comparison of Russia with Switzerland
Switzerland is a country where every citizen is guaranteed to receive a high standard of living. These guarantees can be compared with Swiss banks in terms of reliability . Nevertheless, let's see if life in Switzerland is equally good for everyone and compare it with Russia.
Residence
Analyzing the cost of living in Switzerland, you can see that the country's civil society has a fairly high level of purchasing power. Even Russian middle-class immigrants, having arrived there, can not deny themselves anything. The main question is what to do when the initial capital brought with itself ends. To live well, you need to find highly paid jobs, even in a hospitable country like Switzerland. Russian life here can be both ideal and unbearable. It all depends on the level of income. Of course, if you are a millionaire, you will be given a residence permit without any problems, provided that you enter capital into the country.
Frankly, life in Switzerland through the eyes of Russian immigrants does not look as rosy as it might seem at first glance. Russian immigrants are much more likely to experience poverty than the indigenous population of the country. Every fourth immigrant has to live in cramped conditions that do not fall under European standards of comfort.
Wage
The country of blue lakes (as Switzerland is often called) is one of the most expensive countries in terms of living. At first glance, it seems that an increase in the average salary to 6,000 francs (440 thousand rubles) guarantees a quiet life in Switzerland, but not everyone can expect such a salary. Food industry workers receive about 5,300 francs per month, sellers in retail outlets - 4,700 francs, clerks and a service worker, and even less - 4,300 francs. The difference between the maximum and minimum Swiss wages is 7,000 francs. Only highly qualified specialists can count on an increased salary (up to 11,000 francs).
Prices
Switzerland is an expensive country, and you need to get used to it. She is Europe's leader in high product prices. Pleasant is the fact that the cost of goods here is stable throughout the country. Clothing in Switzerland, as a rule, is cheaper than in Moscow, by 20 percent. But it is also more expensive. It all depends on the specific brand and model. In early January and July, mass sales take place in Switzerland. In most stores, discounts reach up to 50%.
Products in Switzerland are more expensive than in Russia. This is especially true for meat. The most exquisite shops are considered to be Globus chain retail outlets. Among middle-class people, Coop and Migros are the most popular stores. Well, among the cheap grocery stores, Denner and Aldi can be noted. The latter is rare. In the majority of stores, stocks are held daily for certain groups of goods.
Average prices for common products (in Swiss francs) :
- Milk - from 1.15.
- Bread - 2.5-3.5.
- Apples - from 3.5.
- Cheese - from 18.
- Chicken fillet - from 25.
- Veal - from 60.
- Fish - from 30.
Swiss restaurants are some of the most expensive in all of Europe. In the cheapest café or student cafeteria, the price of hot meals starts at around 13 francs. In a middle-class restaurant, a hot meal will cost a visitor 30-40 francs, and a light snack 10-15 francs.
Work
Switzerland is significantly different from EU countries in terms of employment conditions for immigrants. According to studies by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and the European Commission, Switzerland provides foreigners with 76% employment. Other European countries rarely reach 60%.
It is noteworthy that Russian immigrants have a real opportunity to get a job in their specialty. As for labor discrimination, here Switzerland is far ahead of other European states. Not more than 9% of immigrants applying for permanent residence or permanent residence face the fact of labor discrimination. In neighboring countries, this figure averages 15-17%.
To get a job in Switzerland, a migrant needs a work visa. To receive it, you need to provide the following package of documents:
- The applicant's questionnaire in 3 copies.
- Passport + 3 copies.
- 3 color photos.
- Labor contract (contract) + 3 copies.
It is worth noting that obtaining a work visa, despite all its prosaism, is a relative concept. Immigrating to Switzerland in search of a well-paid job is almost a hopeless business. When a migrant has a unique specialty, a scientific degree, and has rich experience, then his chances of becoming a real Swiss are high. Without a set of the above regalia, the prospects for moving to Switzerland are sharply reduced. In fairness, it is worth noting that the country has a high demand for immigrants working in specific areas.
According to one Russian immigrant, the indigenous Swiss always start a conversation with immigrants with the question: “What are you doing?” Usually they wait for an answer like: “I work as a waitress with a strip bar” or “I work in a cabaret”. Hearing that the girl works in the financial sector and at the same time she has not yet married a local, the interlocutors are very surprised.
In general, as shown by the reviews of the immigrants, it is quite possible to find a simple job in Switzerland with an average salary. It is much more difficult to get a highly paid position, for this you need to be a highly competent specialist.
Education
The system of Swiss education occupies a leading position in the world. The country's constitution provides for free and absolutely accessible for all secondary education. But to continue to study, you have to spend money. The amount of funding for higher education depends on the level of the institution and its specialization. Students of state universities study cheaper than those who enrolled in private higher schools or boarding schools.
Diligent students can count on benefits and free tuition. As in the countries of the former Soviet Union, excellent students can not only study for free, but also receive encouragement in the form of scholarships. Swiss scholarship reaches 1000 francs.
One of the Swiss migrants says: “If I continue to study for good grades, then after each semester my scholarship will increase. I am studying in a specialty that in the future will allow me to easily find work in Switzerland. ”
Immigrants from Russia can apply for the following types of Swiss education:
- Schooling.
- University preparatory courses.
- Language classes.
- Education at universities (public and private).
- Getting a second higher education.
On average, a semester of study at a Swiss university costs about 12 thousand francs.
Retirement benefits
Switzerland has repeatedly led the ranking of the best countries for retirees. But there is one important nuance - such ratings are usually calculated for wealthy retirees. Especially for those in Switzerland there are investment programs. If an immigrant is ready to pay tax in the amount of 100 thousand francs per year, then he is guaranteed a residence permit for six months from the moment of arrival in the country. He also suggests an additional bonus in the form of entry without a visa to any Schengen country.
The retirement age for Swiss men starts at 65, and for women at 64. The amount of the pension depends on past activities and can range from 8 to 50 thousand francs per year. When prices and average wages change, pensions are quickly indexed. This is another reason pensioners love life in Switzerland.
Reviews of pensioners who moved to Switzerland show that the state gives them a minimum that is enough to not be left without any means of livelihood. However, in order to live at a high level, one must either have savings, or use various types of pension insurance.
Medicine in Switzerland is expensive, so the average pensioners use health insurance. It gives a guarantee of state assistance in case of illness or accident. The older the Swiss, the more expensive medical insurance costs him. The reason is that with age, the number of people visiting a doctor increases. Insurance payments are fully justified. For example, if an elderly person needs to undergo an expensive operation, the insurance company fully compensates for its costs.
In Switzerland, agriculture is very developed and the lion's share of pensioners is engaged in gardening. For this, pensioners rent small plots of land and cultivate them. An average plot of up to 100 square meters costs about 150 francs per year. The state does not allow tall trees to be planted on such sites and to erect any structures.
Life in Switzerland: Pros and Cons
Based on the foregoing, we consider the main advantages and disadvantages of moving to Switzerland. So, the advantages of living in Switzerland:
- Beautiful landscapes, cleanliness, care for the environment.
- Visa-free entry to Schengen countries.
- High salaries.
- Ability to work in the specialty.
- Decent retirement benefits.
- High-quality and prestigious education.
Cons of living in Switzerland:
- Difficulties in obtaining visas.
- High prices for all types of goods and services.
- Expensive training.
- Difficulties finding decent work.
- The need for health insurance.
Conclusion
Today we examined such an interesting issue as life in Switzerland. The responses of the emigrants who formed the basis of the article show that this state is a good option for moving permanently. However, in order for everything to turn out exactly as promised in advertising booklets, you need to be a narrow-field specialist and be able to present yourself in the labor market. Living in Switzerland for students is also full of perspectives.
Moving to another country is a crucial step. Decide on it or not - everyone’s choice. But the fact that Switzerland is far from the worst option in this regard is a fact.