What if you were born in Switzerland?

If you had grown up in Switzerland instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Zurich could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Château de Chillon on Lake Geneva. Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Switzerland

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in CHF and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Switzerland: CHF 6,230Rs 2,080,000
Rent (city centre): CHF 1,800
Transport (public transport): CHF 238
Food: CHF 901
Saved: CHF 935

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Switzerland: CHF 14,300Rs 4,770,000
Rent (suburbs): CHF 3,650
Transport (public transport): CHF 548
Food: CHF 2,430
Saved: CHF 2,150

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Switzerland: CHF 23,200Rs 7,730,000
Rent (city centre): CHF 5,680
Transport (car): CHF 2,170
Food: CHF 2,840
Saved: CHF 6,500

Try it with my own income

A day in Zurich

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Zurich, a city of snowy winters around -1°C and cool summers around 19°C.
Commute
You take the metro or train: about 25 to 35 minutes, door to door, and it runs on time.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak German at home, and English works almost everywhere.
Lunch
Lunch might be fondue: melted cheese shared from one pot, with bread for dipping.
Evening
You get home with CHF 2,150 saved each month. Walking home late feels completely normal here.
Weekend
Weekends are for the mountains, and skiing in winter.

Switzerland compared with Pakistan

	Switzerland	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	5.6× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	84 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	8 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	4.9%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	9°C	26°C
Languages	German, French, Italian, Romansh	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	CHF	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Switzerland, living in Switzerland and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Switzerland?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around CHF 14,300 a month at the same level in Switzerland (about Rs 4,770,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Switzerland more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 5.6 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Switzerland?

Mainly German, French, Italian, Romansh. English is widely spoken.

Can I actually move to Switzerland?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Switzerland page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.