An Australian mortgage broker has compared how much cheaper it would be to live in Switzerland compared to Sydney.
Quang Huynh He stated that Switzerland is a much more affordable place to live after taking note of expenses during his trips there.
He said house prices, weekly rent, interest rates, food and public transport were much lower than in Sydney, but there was one thing that was much more expensive: eating out.
Quang said property prices were “surprisingly” cheaper in Switzerland than in Sydney.
He saw an apartment listed for just 210,000 euros, which is equivalent to $345,800, and a two-story house for 1.35 million euros, or just over $2.2 million.
Traveler Quang Huynh compared the cost of living in Switzerland and Sydney. He found an apartment for sale for just €210,000, while the average house price in Sydney is $1.6 million.
Sydney has the highest median property price of any Australian capital, at around $1.6 million in December 2023, an increase of 10.6 per cent on the previous year.
However, in the capital of New South Wales, $1.6 million is rarely affordable to buy a detached residence, let alone a split-level home which is often priced in excess of $2 million.
“To rent a four-bedroom apartment costs about $400 a week and you can live near the Swiss Alps, which is beautiful,” Quang added.
“Their transportation always arrives on time, their trains are like Swiss watches.”
The financial guru took a 268-kilometre train journey from Lucerne to Geneva, which cost him 50 Swiss francs or $83.
“In terms of the lifestyle here, if you like hiking like I do, it’s relatively cheap to go up into the Alps and really see pure snow,” Quang said.
Quang said house prices, weekly rent, interest rates, food and public transport were much lower than in Sydney, but eating in restaurants was much more expensive.
“It’s like a winter wonderland here: the snow is fresh.”
One thing Quang found expensive in Switzerland was the cost of eating out. A dinner at a restaurant costs a whopping 50 Swiss francs, or more than $250.
“However, if you decide to cook yourself, food in Switzerland is relatively cheap compared to other European countries,” he says.
At the supermarket he found a large prepared salad for $13.40 and a whole black forest cake for only $5.
“Contrary to the misconception that Switzerland is expensive, its McDonald’s is not so expensive… For 38 francs I bought two meals for children and two meals for adults,” Quang said.
However, Quang’s order amounted to the equivalent of $63.75, while in the Sydney CBD, the same would only cost diners around $45.
‘With a maximum 8 per cent tax on my gross income, would I move from Sydney to Switzerland? “It’s attractive but I think it’s too cold,” she said.
He shared his findings in a TikTok video that divided viewers, some of whom were not convinced that the cost of living was lower in Switzerland.
“I think the brother forgot to convert to Australian dollars,” one person joked, and another noted: “38 francs ($63 AUD) for Maccas is a lot.”
“That’s on par once the conversion is done,” noted a third.
But others were impressed with the prices in Switzerland, with one saying: “It’s time to move there.”
‘Very insightful! Thanks for sharing,” wrote a second.