400k£ in London or 550kchf in Zurich

Google
mon_goog

Go to company page Google

mon_goog
Dec 16, 2021 52 Comments

London(Twitter): High taxes, avg infra but Better Indian community, English and may be faster passport
Zurich(Meta): Low taxes, 0 Capital Gains, Nice Infra, Good for Kids but TC island (few exit opportunities)

yoe: 15

#london #zurich

173 PARTICIPANTS SELECT ONLY ONE ANSWER
VOTE VIEW RESULT

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 52 Comments
  • Gunvor Group
    avg(coder)

    Gunvor Group

    avg(coder)
    I am perplexed how people get such TC. May be they shit code and I code shit.
    Dec 16, 2021 3
    • Google
      mon_goog

      Go to company page Google

      mon_goog
      OP
      I am very avg software engineer. For first 10 years worked in small companies and wasted time. Last 5 years, I was at right place on right time. I am just lucky!
      Dec 16, 2021
    • New
      xershrc

      New

      xershrc
      hey @mon_goog, how did you land an interview w/ Meta in Zurich, to begin with? Thanks!
      Jan 24
  • Google
    WcMh81

    Go to company page Google

    WcMh81
    London is a shit hole. Garbage accommodation at sky high prices. Insane tax for terrible services and getting out of the city to go anywhere nice takes forever.
    Dec 16, 2021 2
    • I cannot agree more with this comment
      Dec 16, 2021
    • Google
      WcMh81

      Go to company page Google

      WcMh81
      To add to this, Zurich airport is a 20 min train ride from the centre. Lake Como is 3h away. Germany, France, Austria and beyond is all accessible by train.

      Zurich isn’t for everyone, but unless you hate the outdoors and having most of Europe on your doorstep and earning high salaries (and keeping most of it), and not getting stabbed or your phone stolen* it’s definitely not boring.

      *i know countless googlers who’ve had their phones stolen within 1/2km of 6PS, ostensibly one of the safest blocks in London.
      Dec 16, 2021
  • 530 USD in London vs 590 USD in Swiss. I would pick London if I have visa issues, otherwise it’s a no brainer
    Dec 16, 2021 7
  • Amazon
    gqYB42

    Go to company page Amazon

    gqYB42
    It largely depends on what stage you are in life and what you like to do. I love London but I can’t really see myself living here when I am 50. London’s cultural offer and night life is what’d you expect from a world class city, but if you prefer a more relaxed lifestyle and the outdoors and easy access to mainland europe Zurich might be the best option. With that TC though you can live wherever the f you want. What level and company offered that???? Yoe?
    Dec 16, 2021 5
    • Nutanix
      brahmastra

      Go to company page Nutanix

      brahmastra
      @Amazon Would you say London is better than Bay area overall for an immigrant? Why or why not?
      Dec 16, 2021
    • Amazon
      gqYB42

      Go to company page Amazon

      gqYB42
      London is massive and very dense, life is a lot more hectic than what I heard in Zurich. This is personal judgement, but if I’d had to chiose I’d grow my kids where they can easily enjoy the outdoors, hiking skiing and go to the seaside, and get good education, and be safer with a lower level of crime. From what I know Zurich ticks all those boxes. I love london but I am not sure I will be able to keep up with the >1hr commutes, the nights spent drinking and clubbing for long. Zurich feels more chilled in a way that is more enjoyable when you are older and settled down. Housing is hella expensive in both cities though. If you are an immigrant I think London offers a bigger variety of cultures so that might be a benefit. Take this with a gran of salt, most of it is personal judgement. I have lived in London for 7 years and have a couple of good friends that moved to zurich from here.
      Dec 16, 2021
  • Meta / Eng
    fnd82

    Go to company page Meta Eng

    PRE
    Google
    fnd82
    Strictly compensation wise I believe London would be better. I think...

    According to friends that live in Zurich and my personal experience by visiting them recently, the cost of living in Zurich is much higher.
    Housing is much more expensive, even though the standard is a lot better.
    Food is a lot more expensive in Zurich. I paid 4 CHF on a Coca-Cola at a kebab food truck that looked nothing special.
    IIRC for the price of a kebab in Zurich I could get a meal in a decent restaurant in London.
    Everything is a lot more expensive in Zurich. My friend said your salary have to be 50% higher at least to worth the while.

    Zurich felt indeed very boring compared to London. But I guess excitement has a price tag (taxes).

    Once again, this is my perception, based on experience and opinions from friends. It may be wrong!
    Dec 16, 2021 3
    • Meta / Eng
      fnd82

      Go to company page Meta Eng

      PRE
      Google
      fnd82
      Value to value Zurich seems more expensive. And yes, as I said, the standard is way higher.
      It is important to take into account salaries in Zurich are (supposed to be) much higher.
      Dec 17, 2021
    • No, rent values are about the same as in London. And quality adjusted Zürich is actually cheaper.

      Important to consider though that like half of London lives in flat shares as many people can't afford to rent an own flat with these prices. In Zürich a lot less people flat share in my perception from living in both
      Dec 18, 2021