About my life in Switzerland
My name is Markus, I am 34 years old and I come from a small town near Tirana in Albania. I came to Switzerland eight years ago, right after finishing my professional driver’s license in my home country. My cousin helped me find a logistics company that decided to start the work permit procedure – the formalities were not simple, because as a citizen of Albania, a non-EU/EFTA country, I was subject to separate regulations and the employer first had to prove that they could not find a suitable candidate from Switzerland or the EU/EFTA. I live alone in a rented 1.5-room apartment just behind the old town in Lucerne, close enough to walk to the station, but far enough away that the rent is still affordable. I drive long-distance routes for a Swiss logistics company, mainly national between Lucerne, Zurich and Basel, and sometimes abroad – to Germany and Italy. It’s a demanding job – early wake-ups, long days on the road, a lot of time alone in the cabin – but the earnings and stability are something I never had at home, and after eight years this city really feels like my own.
Monthly costs
| Category | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) 1.5-room apartment, approx. 45 m², Lucerne (canton of Lucerne), with a parking space for the car | 1 420 CHF | |
| Food and groceries Mainly Migros and Denner, I cook simple meals when I'm at home | 480 CHF | |
| Health insurance (basic) Standard model, franchise 300 CHF. The premium amount also depends on the municipality, tariff region, age and accident insurance | 365 CHF | |
| Private car costs Insurance, service, tax and vignette, fuel – total | 260 CHF | |
| Money sent to family Flexible – sometimes more, sometimes less | 250 CHF | |
| Eating out / meals on the road Roadside bars for drivers and occasionally a restaurant | 220 CHF | |
| Additional costs (Nebenkosten) Heating, water, building maintenance, billed separately from rent | 180 CHF | |
| Entertainment and going out Football with friends, sometimes an evening at a bar | 180 CHF | |
| Savings / reserve Planned part set aside systematically, mainly for emergencies | 150 CHF | |
| Clothing and personal hygiene | 90 CHF | |
| Mobile phone and internet Swisscom subscription, SIM card only, without promotion | 75 CHF | |
| Health and fitness (gym) Small gym near the apartment, helps with sedentary work | 55 CHF | |
| Health insurance (supplementary) Basic dental and outpatient package | 45 CHF | |
| Radio and television subscription (Serafe) From January 1, 2027, the fee is expected to drop to 312 CHF per year | 335 CHF/yr ≈ 28 CHF/mo | |
| Liability and household insurance Policy at Mobiliar | 180 CHF/yr ≈ 15 CHF/mo | |
| Highway vignette Swiss highway vignette, mandatory when using highways and parts of expressways | 40 CHF/yr ≈ 3 CHF/mo | |
| Total per month | 3 816 CHF | 100% |
Monthly income
Markus – truck driver (Lastwagenchauffeur)
- Base pay
- 5 452 CHF
- Holiday pay (8.33%)
- + 454 CHF
- Public-holiday pay (2.60%)
- + 142 CHF
- 13th-salary share (8.33%)
- + 454 CHF
- Gross
- 6 502 CHF
- Social deductions (AHV/IV/ALV) (6.40%)
- − 416 CHF
- Pension (BVG) (7.50%)
- − 488 CHF
- Estimated net
- 5 598 CHF
- Workload
- 100%
Detailed components of earnings
| Component | CHF / month | CHF / year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | 5 100 CHF | 61 200 CHF | Fixed monthly salary according to the employment contract, paid vacation already included. On average, including the 13th month salary, it is approx. 5 875 CHF/month – above the national average for this profession (approx. 62 400 CHF gross per year) |
| Early start bonus | 180 CHF | 2 160 CHF | For starting work before 5:00 AM, common on long-distance routes |
| Overtime pay | 170 CHF | 2 040 CHF | Averaged – depends on the route load in a given month |
| Total gross | 5 450 CHF | 65 400 CHF | |
| 13th month salary | — | 5 100 CHF | Paid separately in November – in this month the payout is noticeably higher |
| Total annual gross | — | 70 500 CHF |
Monthly deductions & charges
| Item | % of gross | CHF / month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHV/IV/ALV | 6.4% | − 349 CHF | Old-age, survivors' and disability insurance, unemployment insurance |
| BVG (2nd pillar) | 7.5% | − 409 CHF | |
| Withholding tax (Quellensteuer) | 10.3% | − 560 CHF | |
| Non-occupational accident insurance (NBU) | 1.1% | − 60 CHF | |
| Sickness daily allowance insurance | 0.7% | − 38 CHF | |
| Total deductions | 26.0% | − 1 416 CHF | |
| Net salary | 4 034 CHF |
The bottom line
- Total net income
- 5 598 CHF
- Monthly costs
- −3 816 CHF
- Left over each month 32% of net income
- 1 782 CHF
Health insurance
- Model
- Standard (free choice of doctor)
- Franchise
- 300 CHF
- Premium
- 365 CHF/mo
I chose the standard model because I wanted the freedom to go to any practice. Refunds via the CSS app usually arrive within one to two weeks, which I appreciate. You have to remember that after exhausting the 300 CHF franchise, I still pay a deductible on treatment costs. The premium also depends on the municipality, tariff region and age – in the canton of Lucerne it is not cheap, so I sometimes think about switching to a telmed model to save a little each month – I just haven't compared the offers yet.
Total premiums 365 CHF/mo
My car
Skoda Octavia Combi
- Year
- 2017
- Fuel
- Diesel
- Engine
- 2 l (1968 cm³)
- Power
- 150 PS (110 kW)
- Gearbox
- Manual
- Drivetrain
- Front-wheel drive
My notes on car costs in Switzerland
– Highway vignette: 40 CHF/year, mandatory when using Swiss highways
– The 2017 car is currently usually in the technical inspection (MFK) cycle of about every two years – the exact date is set by the traffic office and they send the summons themselves
– This is my private car for days off – at work I drive a company truck, so these costs are not part of my personal budget
– Diesel prices in the canton of Lucerne are usually slightly higher than at the German border, so I sometimes refuel when the route takes me there
Phone subscription
SIM card only, unlimited calls, SMS and internet
- Monthly subscription
- 75 CHF
- Roaming in the EU
- Included
Unlimited internet in Switzerland, without phone, price without promotion
Useful for cross-border routes to Germany and Italy
My opinion on Swisscom: The coverage is really great, even on more remote sections that I sometimes drive, which is very important for someone who spends all day on the road. It is more expensive than cheaper operators, but I have never had a dropped connection or a dead zone that would have harmed me.
Everyday bank account
Basic private account with debit card
- Monthly account fee
- 5 CHF
- ATM withdrawals
- Free
Basic package, without additional features
At PostFinance ATMs – withdrawal at the post office counter may be treated differently, it is worth checking for your own package
My opinion on PostFinance: Nothing fancy, but it is reliable, the app is easy to use for sending money home and in eight years I have never had any problem.
Household and private liability insurance
Covers apartment equipment and general liability
- Annual premium
- 180 CHF
Covers theft, water damage and liability up to 5 million CHF
My opinion on Mobiliar: Cheap for the peace of mind it gives, especially since I live alone. I haven't had to report any damage yet, but the agent was helpful when signing the contract and explained everything in German, which was understandable to me.
Key facts
- Canton
- Lucerne
- City
- Lucerne
- Household
- 👤 Single
- Adults’ ages
- 34
- Children
- 0
- Residence permit
- Permit B (residence)
- Home
- Rented
- Living space
- 45 m²
- Employment
- Permanent
- Languages
- GermanB1EnglishB1
Questions & answers
Why did you choose Switzerland, and specifically Lucerne?
My cousin was already working in logistics near Zurich and helped me find an employer willing to go through the permit procedure for a non-EU/EFTA citizen. I chose Lucerne instead of a larger city because the rents were a bit more reasonable, and besides, I liked that it is quieter here and closer to the mountains, while maintaining good rail and highway connections to work.
How difficult was it to get recognition of Swiss driving qualifications and a work permit?
I already had C and CE categories from Albania, but I still had to go through the Swiss CZV (Chauffeurzulassungsverordnung) training modules and pass a practical exam here before I could drive professionally. On top of that was the work permit procedure itself – as a citizen of a non-EU/EFTA country I do not have free access to the labor market, so the employer first had to prove that they did not find a suitable candidate from Switzerland or the EU/EFTA. The whole thing took several months and cost a bit, but the employer covered part of the expenses.
Do you send money to your family in Albania?
Yes, in most months I send something to help my parents, although the amount varies depending on how much is left after paying rent, insurance and taxes. Usually it is between 150 and 300 francs.
What surprised you most about the cost of living here?
Health insurance was the biggest surprise – at home, healthcare costs look completely different. It took me a while to understand that everyone pays their own premium regardless of income, that even after exhausting the franchise you still pay a deductible, and to choose the right franchise corresponding to how often I actually use treatment.
What is the hardest part of the work itself?
Unpredictability. Traffic jams, weather, loading delays – a route that should take six hours can easily grow to eight, and my body had to get used to long sitting alternating with physically demanding loading and unloading. The gym membership really helps.
After eight years, do you feel settled in Switzerland?
Mostly yes. My German is now good enough that I manage in everyday life and in most professional situations, I have a small group of friends here, mainly other drivers, and Lucerne has started to be a home, not just a place of work. I still miss Albania, especially the food and the sea, but I go back there almost every year for a few weeks.
Eight years ago I came here with one suitcase and a driver's license. Now I have my own rented apartment, a car and a job that allows me to actually save something every month. It wasn't easy at the beginning, but Lucerne has become my home.