Geneva - Post Report Question and Answers
What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Most are townhomes in the suburbs with small lawns or nice sized apartments in the city. There are a few stand-alone houses scattered around as well. The housing is very spread out within 10-15 miles of the mission. Some of the housing is older and some is new. It is a pretty mixed bag, but most people seem to be happy enough with their housing. There is a huge housing crunch in Geneva and the mission keeps a pool of homes. You do have to bring your own furniture to this post, which I like (surprisingly). - Jun 2022
My first house was a company flat in a village with 600 people and 6000 cows. Quite a change from Boston. - Jul 2018
For those with the U.S. Mission, it is an LQA post meaning you must find your own housing. This means everyone is scattered across the area. There is one apartment complex downtown where many singles/couples (and a few families) live. Otherwise most families seem to be scattered randomly across the villages outside of the city from Geneva to the smaller town of Nyon. Family housing is often in duplexes or townhomes as there are not many single family homes. Commutes are easy ranging from 5 to 30 minutes for most. Other non-diplomatic expats often choose to live across the border in France to save money. - Mar 2014
Rent is expensive, but public transportation is good, so people can live in France, pay less rent and commute. - Mar 2014
The housing market is one of the most expensive in the world. Many people live in France, right across the border, because it is cheaper, but even then it is much more expensive than a major city in the US. Commute times vary. The farther out you live, the cheaper the housing, but the longer the commute. In Geneva, people take public transport or ride bikes to work. It is important to live on the same side of the lake on which you work, since crossing from one side of Geneva to another in a car is problematic, i.e., traffic jams. - Mar 2013
The full range -- we are in a house in the countryside quite near to Geneva. It's nice. Many have apartments in town. - Feb 2012
This is a LQA post, so plan for great flexibility and plenty of rules. It is recommended to make a trip to Geneva ahead of time to find a place to live (about 1 month before arriving); however, if that is not an option, use the internet to scout out places. I had great luck with www.homegate.ch and also www.immostreet.ch Apartment living is in vogue here. You can find houses, but be prepared that part of your financial responsibilty will be the garden maintenance, and the Swiss take that seriously. (Think Home Owner's Association to the extreme.) Most (though not all) single family homes are outside Geneva in the countryside (about 10-30 minute drive, depending on how far out) while apartments are in most cities/villages. The landlords are able to discriminate regarding who their tennant will be, so making a good impression with the real estate agent is a plus. In regards to animals, the landlord cannot say "No," but he can have a weight limit. The housing office will take all the necessary pictures and test things throughout the house to ensure it all works, so when you move out there are not "needless replacement fees." Be aware though, that legalities and politics play a role in leaving your rental property -- you may not find out about fees until the bill arrives. One such example is the cleaning fee when you vacate: if the landlord requires a cleaning company to do the job and issue the certificate, you could be out up to 3000CHF. Most Mission employees live between Geneva and Nyon with a focus around Versoix, Coppet and Mies. Nyon is a 12-minute train ride or 20-30 minute drive north of Geneva. Both the highway and lake road offer good driving, even in snowy weather. - Jul 2009
