On the other hand, you will need that much to live there!

Take this 250k googler, he's more frugal than anyone I know and yet they spend 90k/yr living in Zuerich. http://retireinprogress.com/2017-q4/

If you read the post, he spent $27K on two wedding ceremonies, and $10K on a huge trip (presumably his honeymoon).

Actual "normal" cost was closer to $50K.

And that’s the most frugal guy he knows!

> On the other hand, you will need that much to live there!

This is not true. (I live in Switzerland)

Do not forget that the taxes are way different and should be accounted for in a comparison.

I lived in Switzerland, paid 12% taxes and 5% for AHV (public pension fund, you don't get this money back), lived in a 100sqm (1000sqf) flat for 1800 chf a month, 25 min to zurich by train but only a 15min bike ride to work, ~110k salary

This is true. I know someone who works as a dev for CHF 150k+ in Bern, and Zurich has even higher levels of salary.

Getting paid while in grad school? Or you're saying the pay goes up as you go from graduate degree to Ph.D?

If you aren't getting paid to be in grad school, then that was a hint that they didn't really want to take you. Any reputable grad school place will be paying you.

Depends on the country. In New Zealand it's not common to be paid to do post grad.

Getting paid while in grad school. As a grad student at ETH, depending on your department, you'll earn anything from $60k - $100k (ballpark).

Yes (both).

Nice. Working in Europe is definitely on my list for the next handful of years.. just need to figure out how to make the move (have EU citizenship, just a matter of making the jump)