Would You Rather Have a $300k Job in Switzerland or a $150k Remote Job in Europe?
Swiss $300k nets €28k savings after €120k family costs. Remote $150k nets €48k from LCOL. Real math on taxes, pensions, and purchasing power.
I think a $300k Swiss job and $150k remote job are more comparable in terms of competitiveness and difficulty to land.
Now I would like to expand a bit on this comparison, doing some more accurate math and adding some additional nuances.
The Math: Real Numbers for Both Scenarios
Let me break down the actual financial reality of these two paths, assuming a family of 4 (2 adults, 1 kid in kindergarten, 1 kid in public primary school).
Scenario 1️⃣: $300k Swiss Job (Based in Zurich)
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $300,000 | ~287k CHF at current exchange rate |
| Total Tax Rate | ~36.3% | Federal + cantonal + municipal taxes |
| After-Tax Income | ~$191,100 | ~183k CHF, ~€170k |
| Living Costs (Family of 4) | ~$126,000 | ~120k CHF/year |
| Gross Savings | ~$65,100 | ~62k CHF |
| Healthcare, Travel, Dining | ~$36,000 | Additional expenses |
| Net Realistic Savings | ~$29,100 |
Living costs breakdown:
- Rent (3-bedroom): CHF 36,000-42,000
- Childcare/School: CHF 30,000-35,000
- Food & Groceries: CHF 18,000-22,000
- Health Insurance: CHF 12,000-14,000
- Transport: CHF 6,000-7,000
- Utilities: CHF 4,000-5,000
- Other: CHF 14,000-15,000
For more details, see our comprehensive Switzerland guide.
Scenario 2️⃣: $150k Remote Job (Living in LCOL Europe)
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $150,000 | €140k at current rates |
| Total Tax Rate | ~15% | Many LCOL countries: Poland 12%, Georgia 1%, Bulgaria 9%, Romania 12% |
| After-Tax Income | ~$127,500 | ~€119k |
| Living Costs (Family of 4) | ~$85,500 | ~€80k/year in places like Poland, Portugal, Spain |
| Net Realistic Savings | ~$42,000 | ~€39k |
Living costs breakdown (e.g., Krakow, Poland or Porto, Portugal):
- Rent (3-bedroom, nice): €15,000-18,000
- Childcare/School: €8,000-12,000
- Food & Groceries: €12,000-15,000
- Health Insurance: €3,000-5,000
- Transport: €3,000-4,000
- Utilities: €3,000-4,000
- Other: €10,000-12,000
The Comparison Table
| Factor | $300k Switzerland | $150k Remote LCOL | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net Savings | 🏆 Remote | ||
| Savings Rate | ~9% | ~32% | 🏆 Remote |
| Quality of Life | High but expensive | High and affordable | 🏆 Remote |
| Social Life | Limited, expensive | Vibrant, affordable | 🏆 Remote |
| Career Prestige | Higher | Moderate | 🏆 Switzerland |
| Work-Life Balance | Variable | Usually good | 🏆 Remote |
| Purchasing Power | $28k in HCOL | $48k in LCOL | 🏆 Remote |
| CV Impact | Strong brand | Depends on company | 🏆 Switzerland |
The remote LCOL option nets you 71% more savings despite earning half the gross salary.
Plus, that $48k in a low-cost country has significantly more purchasing power than $28k in Switzerland.
Important Caveats
Caveat 1: Swiss Pension Benefits
In Switzerland, part of your taxes goes into a pension fund you can cash out or access after retirement.
Let's value these benefits at approximately $15,000/year in real future value.
Adding this to Swiss savings gives approximately $43,000/year in total wealth building.
This makes the comparison much closer:
- Switzerland: ~$43k/year wealth building
- Remote LCOL: ~$48k/year savings
Still advantage remote, but only by ~10% instead of 71%.
Caveat 2: Value of Savings Location
$28k (or even $43k) in Zurich ≠ $48k in an LCOL country
The purchasing power and life opportunities of savings vary greatly based on location:
| What You Can Do | With $50k in Zurich | With $50k in LCOL |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Down Payment | Maybe for studio apartment | 3-bedroom apartment or small house |
| Start a Business | Limited runway | 12-18 months of expenses |
| Emergency Fund | ~4 months expenses | ~12 months expenses |
| Investment Portfolio | Same nominal value | Same nominal value (but cushion is bigger) |
Caveat 3: Additional Swiss Deductions
In Switzerland, there are also some other deductions you can make from your taxes if you're willing to manage your wealth through pension funds (Pillar 3a contributions, etc.).
But it's not that life changing. Moreover, in the costs we have also been relatively conservative, and they could also be quite a bit higher in some cases (especially if you want any semblance of a social life or eat out occasionally).
Beyond the Numbers: What About Life Quality?
Of course, life isn't just about numbers. Other factors come into play:
Work Environment and Culture
Switzerland:
- More corporate, hierarchical
- German work culture (punctuality, process-heavy)
- Face time often valued
- Limited work flexibility in many companies
Remote:
- Usually more async and flexible
- Results-oriented culture
- Work from anywhere within approved countries
- More autonomy
Location Preferences
Switzerland advantages:
- Mountains and outdoor activities
- Central Europe location for travel
- World-class infrastructure
- Political stability and safety
LCOL countries advantages:
- Vibrant social scenes (especially in cities like Lisbon, Warsaw, Barcelona)
- Warmer climates (Portugal, Spain, Cyprus)
- More affordable leisure activities
- Often more welcoming expat communities
Long-term Career Prospects
Switzerland:
- Strong CV branding (Swiss companies, big tech offices)
- Easier to land next high-paying role
- Local network in premium market
- Career trajectory to senior leadership
Remote:
- Building remote-work skills (increasingly valuable)
- Location flexibility (can relocate without job change)
- Often working for cutting-edge startups/scaleups
- Sometimes less clear career path
Check out why high-paying remote is the new FAANG for more on this trend.
Family and Personal Goals
Switzerland better if:
- You value world-class education system
- Safety is top priority
- You love mountains and outdoor activities
- You already speak German
- You have limited social needs
Remote LCOL better if:
- You want to save aggressively for early FI
- You value social life and going out
- You prefer beach/warm weather
- You want your kids to learn multiple languages
- You want financial flexibility to take risks
The Optimal Strategy: Sequential Approach
Many successful engineers I know do this:
Phase 1: Swiss Career Boost (2-3 years)
- Land Swiss or high-paying EU job
- Live frugally, save €50-80k
- Build premium CV and skills
- Network with top talent
Phase 2: Transition to Remote
- Negotiate remote work with current employer, OR
- Use Swiss CV to land high-paying remote role ($120-180k)
- Relocate to LCOL country
Phase 3: Optimize Location
- Enjoy high income ($120k+)
- Low taxes (10-15%)
- Low costs (€30-50k/year for family)
- Save €60-90k/year
- Build €300-600k net worth in 5-8 years
This sequence maximizes both career growth and wealth building.
Read more: Location planning for financial independence
More Resources on This Topic
Here's some more resources on this topic:
- Switzerland for Software Engineers - deep dive
- Switzerland vs Poland for Software Engineers in Europe
- Crowdsourced data on salaries, living costs and saving rates for devs in Europe
- Best low-cost, low-tax countries for remote developers
- Top 3 career paths for European developers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this comparison fair? A $300k Swiss job is much harder to land than a $150k remote job.
You're absolutely right, and that's actually my main point. They're comparable in difficulty, not in salary number. $300k Swiss roles require: top-tier CS degree, several years at FAANG/unicorn, system design expertise, compete with best European engineers, pass 5-6 round interviews, relocate to expensive city. $150k remote roles require: similar technical skills (senior-level), remote work experience/discipline, strong communication skills, often async work expertise, cultural fit for remote-first companies. Both are achievable for top ~5-10% of engineers. The interesting insight: the "easier" role to land ($150k remote) often provides better actual lifestyle and savings. Many engineers grind for years to land that Swiss role, only to realize remote offers better quality of life. If you're pursuing the Swiss path, make sure it's for the right reasons (CV building, specific learning opportunities) not just money, because pure ROI favors remote.
How does this math change if I'm single without kids?
Dramatically in Switzerland's favor. Single engineer, $300k Swiss: $300k gross → $191k after tax → $55k living costs (rent $30k, food $10k, insurance $4k, misc $11k) = $136k saved (45% savings rate). Add pension benefits $15k = $151k wealth building. Single engineer, $150k remote: $150k gross → $128k after tax → $28k living costs (rent $12k, food $6k, insurance $2k, misc $8k) = $100k saved (67% savings rate). Switzerland now wins in absolute terms ($151k vs $100k), though remote still has better percentage and purchasing power. Bottom line for singles: If you can land the $300k Swiss role AND live frugally (many don't - lifestyle inflation is real in Zurich), Switzerland builds more wealth. But remote offers more lifestyle flexibility and lower stress. Optimal: Do Swiss 2-3 years while single, save $300-450k, then go remote before starting family. See our Switzerland guide for more.
What about other high-paying markets like US (SF/Seattle) or UK (London)?
US comparison ($400k total comp in SF): ~$250k after tax → $120k living costs (family) = $130k saved. US wins on absolute savings IF you can land and keep those roles (competitive, layoff risk). But requires H1B/green card complexity for Europeans. See should you move to US. London comparison (£150k/$195k): ~£100k after tax → £65k living costs (family) = £35k (~$45k) saved. Similar to Zurich but with better social life, worse weather. Still doesn't beat remote LCOL on savings rate. Dublin comparison (€160k): ~€110k after tax → €70k living costs (family) = €40k saved. Good middle ground, strong tech scene. Reality: US offers highest absolute savings for singles/DINKs willing to grind. For families prioritizing work-life balance and savings rate, remote LCOL wins. For career prestige, US > Switzerland > UK > Remote. Choose based on your life stage and priorities.
Are there remote jobs that actually pay $150k+ in Europe?
Absolutely yes, and increasingly common. Where to find them: (1) US companies hiring in Europe - many pay $120-200k for senior engineers (check our job board filtered for remote), (2) Well-funded EU startups - especially in AI, fintech, crypto, infrastructure - paying €100-150k+, (3) Consulting/contracting - independent contractors can charge €800-1,500/day (€150-300k/year), (4) Stripe, GitLab, Shopify, etc. - remote-first companies with location-agnostic pay, (5) Scaling Series B+ startups - once they raise $50M+, they compete on comp. What you need: 5+ years experience, strong tech skills (AI/ML, distributed systems, or hot tech stack), proven remote work ability, excellent communication, portfolio of impact. Reality check: $150k remote is roughly equivalent to $200-250k HCOL on-site in competitiveness. Not easy to land, but very achievable for senior+ engineers. See high-paying remote companies list.
What if I can't save as much as these examples? Am I doing something wrong?
Not necessarily - these examples assume relatively frugal living and no major unexpected expenses. Common reasons for lower savings: (1) Lifestyle inflation - earning more leads to spending more (bigger apartment, nicer restaurants, more travel), (2) Supporting family abroad - sending money to parents/relatives, (3) Debt repayment - student loans, credit cards, (4) Health issues - unexpected medical costs even with insurance, (5) Location within country - living in capital vs smaller city (Warsaw vs Krakow = 20-30% cost difference), (6) Childcare age - infants/toddlers cost 2-3x more than school-age kids. What to do: Track your spending for 3 months, identify categories where you're overspending vs budget, decide what's truly important vs what's lifestyle inflation. Savings rates of 20-30% in LCOL or 10-20% in HCOL are still very good. Don't stress about matching examples exactly - focus on optimizing YOUR situation. Use our financial data tool to compare against similar situations.
Should I negotiate for higher salary or better remote conditions?
Depends on your total comp and life situation. Negotiate for higher salary if: Current total comp is below market, you're in HCOL location where costs are high, you're planning to stay on-site anyway, the company has budget but is inflexible on remote. Negotiate for remote conditions if: You're already paid decently (above €80k), you want to move to LCOL location, the company is remote-resistant but might compromise, you value flexibility over marginal salary increase. Do the math: If you're making €100k in Munich and could save €15k/year, moving to remote in Poland at same salary might save you €50k/year (€35k difference). That's equivalent to a €55k raise (assuming ~35% tax). Remote location flexibility is often worth more than 20-30% salary increase. Best move: Negotiate BOTH - higher salary AND remote conditions. But if forced to choose, remote usually offers more lifestyle and financial benefit unless the salary difference is massive (€50k+). See our negotiation guide for tactics.