Vienna vs Zurich

I've lived all my life near Vienna and it has always been a treat. Especially now that I am planning to move for my studies, I've come to realize how dear this city is to me. In general, Austria is full of cultures that might seem extremely strange to outsiders but don't worry, just be open-minded. If you are coming to this capital solely for leisure purposes then you sure will be in for a ride. In the 17 years of my life, I've done surely over 500 activities in Vienna alone and yet feel like there are another 1000+ things which I haven't come to do. If you come here for your studies and or work, great! Austria values its education a lot and although it is true that there is a competitive job market it is very easy finding a profession in which you would thrive.

Vienna, Austria. One of the most clean cities (and countries) I’ve ever lived in. Maintained and organized very well and with a incredible transport system. Almost everything is very efficient and reliable such as post office and other public offices, apart immigration office that has room for improvement, maybe because of the work load due to the high number of expats living in Vienna. Since it so efficient and dense with people from all over the world (although mainly from Germany and Eastern Europe) its also very noisy. Not only during the day because of traffic, narrow roads, flat building architecture which are packed so close to each other but also because of the construction works but also and often during the night, specially on weekend nights! Very good possibility to find a job if you speak at least German and English but the salaries are low compared to the living costs. Unless you are a highly skilled and specialized worker. Great place for families since there is a lot of attention to child and mother care. But, although Vienna is a melting pot, there is not much to do in the city apart pubs and some museums, unless you work and live with music and art maybe. After 7pm the streets are desert and in the winter even sooner. Except restaurants, all shops are closed at 6pm on Saturday, and on Sunday everything is closed! To make local friend it may take years for not German speaking expats since they are not really extroverts but you have better chances if you are below 30. Healthcare system is vey good: free checks ones a year and short waiting times for specialist visits. You may need additional private insurance for some treatments though.