Living in Switzerland
Last week
CNN’s Business Traveller reported that When it comes to the world’s best cities, Geneva and Zurich come up trumps. The Swiss cities were jointly awarded the number one spot in this year’s world-wide quality of life survey by human resources consulting firm Mercer.
Following in third place were Vancouver, Canada and Vienna, Austria, with three German cities — Munich, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf — sharing fifth position.
But what is interesting is that in April this year there was a similar survey within Switzerland. The town of Riehen near Basel offers the highest quality of life in Switzerland, the survey found. The top 25 towns were all in the German part of the country. The highest-placed city in French-speaking Switzerland was Fribourg (26). Lugano was the top city in Italian-speaking Ticino, at 54.
The most noticeable result is that Switzerland’s five biggest cities – Basel (62), Bern (34), Zurich (39), Lausanne (82) and Geneva (46) – all came far down the rankings.
So in a way I am quite proud that I am perhaps living in the world’s most desirable place to live – Riehen!
I visited Switzerland (mainly Zurich, Geneva, Interlakan and Brigg) back in 2002, found things were exprenseive (with US standered) just wondering if the pay in this counrty is that great?Â
Ah well, Switzerland does have high cost of living and the salaries are good enough to maintain a good standard of living. But I do think that the savings potential is not same as say US or the ME. Particularly food and housing. And its even higher in the Germany speaking areas than in the French and Italian speaking areas (I do think there is a correlation between high cost of living and higher quality of life – as it becomes almost impossible to live miserably!)California is not that bad either, right? :-)Â Â
California, high cost of living but pay is pretty good. But recently (5 years) real estate has sky rocketed. So to own a nice place would take a person’s one month salary as mortgage every month. But, what ever said CA is a great place to live. Lot of stuff to do. I know but nor as pretty as Switz.Â
California is costly, but then it is California. Personally I did prefer being in Hawai , Maui to be precise — reminded me of my vacations in Kerala and could get all the sugarcane I wanted 🙂
Anyways, California – read San Diego is pretty beautiful too. Saw the best and closet 4th of July fireworks this year from the UCSD Campus at La Jolla. And now I am an hours driving distance from another beautiful place – Yosemite. Cant wait for the spring/summer to come back and vist Yosemite.