Money (Part 2)

As mentioned in my previous post, the Swiss are known for money, and rightly so.

Nearly everything over here costs roughly twice as much as in NZ, there are some notable exceptions however. Beer is actually cheaper over here and in fact is probably the cheapest beverage you can buy. Its also and its pretty damn tasty as well. Meat on the other hand cost about three times as much, while petrol is about the same as in NZ.

But the average grocery bill, accommodation costs, or shopping total is going to be about double what it would be in New Zealand. So whats the difference? Well for one the quality of goods and services over here is incredible. Food is still food, but with things like clothes and appliances they don't have the cheap imitation knock offs and everything isn't stamped with Made in China. They are all good high quality brands that will last longer and work better. Entertainment, like the movies or water-parks are likewise expensive but you get a lot of value for money, everything is clean, tidy and well maintained.

ATMs serve as another reminder that the Swiss just have more money. When making a withdraw you're presented with a number of fast cash options, the lowest value being 100 Swiss Francs, or roughly $130 NZD. Incidentally, the ATMs also give you the options of withdrawing cash in Euros, which is bloody handy considering there are three different countries within a one hour drive of where I'm living.