Hands down: Zurich.
One of the most stunning places in the world. Expensive, to be sure, but what you get for your money makes it worth it.
Negatives: Don't expect to make friends, so try to find other expats. And you'll always be a second-class citizen if you're not Swiss (with the right name), learn to live with it. Rains a lot.
Positives: Everything else. Clean, safe, perfect hiking and skiing (and even swimming in summer), the public transportation couldn't be better, etc.
To make matters worse, the local language in Zurich is Swiss German which is different enough from German to probably count as its own language (which will be completely useless outside of Switzerland).
And we’re not even easy to make friends with on our own. ;)
Source: I’m Swiss, originally from the agglomeration of Zurich and have worked in many international companies/with many expat colleagues.
Hint: there is an "english-speakers' Verein"
> (which will be completely useless outside of Switzerland)
And even within switzerland, it will probably be more useful in Ticino than in western switzerland, where the kids learn standard german in school.
I think that's generally true around the world. Is there actually a country where it's easy to make friends with people, especially when you're an expat ?
My understanding (what I was told) was that the Swiss make their deep friendships pretty early on, in school, and there's kind of a wall after that. I should have clarified that I didn't find it unfriendly but sometimes hard to get close to people, and it seems that expats tend to find each other for that reason. I would say it's a bit introverted as a culture, as opposed to say, Italy, which is an extroverted culture, for example. Not a judgement, just an observation.
What makes it worth it? That's a good question. It's a big economic question. People will say, "Milk costs more but you make more so it's the same as a place where you make less but milk, say, costs less." That's not true. The milk, for this example, in Switzerland is so much better, higher quality, etc. So it's not an apple to apples comparison. Plus, when you're buying non-local items, such as any electronics, for example, or you're saving/investing or you travel, now your higher salary is paying off.
Edit: P.S. This is a rule of thumb I live by, having lived and worked in five countries: all things being equal otherwise (meaning personal preferences should be considered first), always always always go for the higher nominal income. Be careful in putting trust in things like PPP.
I don't known if anything in Munich can compete with a nice lakefront pad in Zurich.
If cost is a consideration, Munich definately. The range of great and cheap nature options near Munich is countless. It's Austria's backyard, and hanging out in the Austrian Alps and lakes is a fraction of the price of the Swiss alternative.
Does this actually affect you? i.e. not taking in count an emotional side: career opportunities, the quality of private or public services (e.g. doctors might treat you with less care? The waiter might ignore you in a restaurant?), etc...
> career opportunities: yes, it can affect you
> the quality of private or public services: no
> the emotional side: yes, a bit (why not take it into account?)
They both have pedestrian area shopping, and excellent transit. And they're both great for food.
I don't know anything about living there, though. But if I was choosing, it would be Munich hands down. So much friendlier.
Zurich isn't just a little bit more expensive. I was pretty blown away at how much everything there costs.
Mind you, Hells Angels were in town, but that at least made the club I ended up at interesting. Would have been incredibly dull otherwise.
In Munich, you can find a party atmosphere pretty much at any time, and you don't have to go to "the bad area" to find it.
I've lived here more than a decade now but if you don't actually live in downtown or maybe Altstetten, then good luck food wise. Most restaurant are simply serve the same food which is boring after a while.
In Budapest and London there's a lot more variety.
If you like weekend / multi-day hikes, I really strongly recommend checking out the Alpenvereinshütten. No such thing as camping on longer hikes when there's a (very affordable) mountain cabin with warm food on your way.
There a lot of trails if gravel biking is your thing and plenty of sailing opportunities on the big lakes.
So like any city its more about what you make of it.
Most other European towns would qualify much more favorable.