"Leaving Switzerland Due to Unaffordability Many Foreign Residents Struggle With Cost of Living"
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Leaving the Swiss Alps for the greener pastures: Breaking down why foreigners leave Switzerland 🇨🇭
Switzerland, famed for its breathtaking landscapes and high standard of living, has quite a high number of people leaving after living there for an extended period, as per Eurostat migration statistics.
On average, about 155,000 immigrants arrived in Switzerland every year from 2013 to 2022. However, around 90,000 foreigners bid farewell to the country in the same time frame.
When the topic recently surfaced on The Local Switzerland, it sparked a flurry of comments from readers offering their thoughts on the reasons why people leave. One prevailing opinion was the cost of living.
One reader commented, "Switzerland has become hyper-expensive for many people." In fact, numerous readers agreed. They pointed out that many Swiss citizens too were exiting the country due to the same reasons.
If residents have lucrative jobs in Switzerland, the country can be a dream, but things change when employment ends, a contract concludes, or retirement knocks on the door. Without a stable financial situation, life in Switzerland becomes too costly, forcing many to call it quits.
Compared to 20 states in the Eurostat database, Switzerland ranked 6th, with 54 departures for every 100 arrivals (emigration vs. immigration rate). This is significantly higher than the EU average, reporting a rate of 34/100.
Interestingly, the Federal Statistical Office data revealed that the departure rate of immigrants is particularly high in the first few years after arrival. Most departures occurred in the first two years of residency.
According to sociologist Liliana Azevedo from the Swiss Research Center for Migration at the University of Neuchâtel, a change in employment status is one of the factors contributing to early departures. "People tend to forget that immigrants don't necessarily aim to settle down," she said. "Work is what ties people to Switzerland. When unemployed, insecure, or unskilled jobs turn up, it becomes an obstacle to staying in the country for more than a few years."
Some commenters mentioned that most immigrants didn't plan to stay permanently in Switzerland. The high wages actually kept them around longer than initially anticipated. "Switzerland feels like a golden era," said one commenter. "Work is what binds people to Switzerland, and we feel trapped after seeing how much money we can earn compared with our home countries."
Another deciding factor was retirement. Many retiring immigrants moved to countries with a lower cost of living, ensuring their Swiss pension would cover their expenses. "Retiring in Switzerland is unaffordable unless you've worked there for more than 20 years," said one commenter. "I'll leave when I retire because it's too expensive on a pension," said another.
Many other readers attributed the departure of foreigners to the difficulties they encountered in settling and integrating in Switzerland. "Switzerland may seem welcoming," said a commenter, "but it's hard work for foreigners." Resentments and the knowledge that their infrastructure is under strain make things difficult. "Swiss people, in general, are reserved, and acceptance takes time," the commenter added. More obvious reasons for departure included returning to the home country to care for ageing family, pursue career opportunities, or for children's education.
One commenter, who had returned to the UK after working in Switzerland for 30 years, offered a word of caution for those intending to leave. "I genuinely wish I still lived there," she said. "Jobs work in Switzerland (especially Geneva) if you know and adhere to the systems. The healthcare system in particular is fantastic. If I could, I'd go back in a heartbeat."
So, have you left or are you considering leaving Switzerland? Don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below! 💬
Tidbits:
- Switzerland presents unique challenges for integration due to its selective job market and high cost of living.
- Financial pressures and difficulties in integrating prompt many foreign residents to leave Switzerland.
- Retiring in Switzerland can prove costly, often pushing retirees toward returning to their home countries.
- A lucrative wage, initially bringing foreigners to Switzerland, can inadvertently keep them there for longer than planned.
- Many immigrants have temporary permits or work short-term opportunities in Switzerland, making long-term settlement less likely.
Sources:
- A missed opportunity: Why migration is a win-win for Switzerland
- Why 6 out of 10 Portuguese emigrants leave Switzerland
- 7 misconceptions about migration in Switzerland
- How to succeed in Switzerland: A guide for job seekers
- despite Switzerland's noted beauty and high standard of living, a significant number of foreign residents choose to emigrate, evidenced by the 90,000 annual departures over the 2013-2022 period, as per Eurostat;
- certain readers attributed this emigration trend to the country's high cost of living, with numerous Swiss citizens also leaving for similar reasons;
- financial considerations, such as an unstable financial situation or unsustainable lifestyle choices, are factors that can compel residents to leave Switzerland;
- wealth-management, home-and-garden, and personal-finance behaviors can become unaffordable in Switzerland, particularly for those with a lower income or approaching retirement age;
- living expenses can be further exacerbated by difficulties encountered during integration, including employment instability and feelings of isolation;
- immigrants' intentions to stay permanently in Switzerland may be influenced by high wages, which can extend their time in the country past their initial plans, but ultimately, factors such as retirement and career development opportunities often lead to emigration.
