The luxury apartment in Geneva I moved from the US to: a look inside

I have been a foreigner most of my life. I’m from Japan and have lived in six countries in total. I have called Geneva, Switzerland my home for the past 15 years.

When my then-husband and I Decided to move here, to his hometown, Our first child is only 10 months old. We wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of New York and London, where we had worked as investment bankers for a long time.

Raising a family here is a huge blessing. Now my ex-husband and I are raising two teenagers together. His house is only a five-minute walk from my house. Geneva is unlike any other place I have lived and I found something that really works for me.

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The first thing I noticed about this apartment was its traditional charm and ornate ceiling.

I have a spacious entrance with two bathrooms off the foyer. One bathroom has a bathtub and the other has a shower and washer-dryer.

One of our two bathrooms.

Photo: Shizuka McNeil

To the right after entering the door is the kitchen, where we spend most of our time. My daughter is a passionate baker and my son is an avid taste tester. The walls are decorated with artwork from their childhood.

The kitchen is the hub of activity for me and my two kids.

Photo: Shizuka McNeil

Homes in Europe typically don’t have as much storage space as homes in the United States. We didn’t have any built-in wardrobes, so we built a makeshift closet in the entryway and drawers in the children’s room.

We have three bedrooms. My office is also my home office.my company have traveled Helping women advocate for themselves financially: I launched this program in 2022 after years of counseling.

A calm space for work and rest.

Photo: Shizuka McNeil

There are some great views from the apartment, including the Saint-Pierre Cathedral and the oldest public high school in the area, where my son currently attends. You can catch a glimpse of the Great Fountain of Lake Geneva.

Cost of living in Geneva

Our leases are open-ended and any rent increases are indexed to an inflation-based index. We have not experienced rent increases in the past 15 years, mainly because there has not been significant inflation here.

When we first signed the lease, the deposit was set at three months’ rent. My monthly expenses include $6,970 in rent, $384 in parking, $1,452 in health insurance, $578 in heating, and $266 in internet and phone bills.

A cozy corner for watching TV and relaxing.

Photo: Shizuka McNeil

While the public school system here is great, kids don’t have class on Wednesday afternoons, so child care can be expensive.

While life in general can be expensive, to me it’s worth it. Geneva strives to provide its citizens with a high quality of life, balancing the high cost of living. The city has strict regulations on environmental protection, food safety and health care standards.this minimum wage $27 per hour.

Switzerland is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world.

I personally find the healthcare system in Geneva to be excellent. When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, I was able to have surgery within nine days. I received excellent personalized attention from a team of highly skilled and attentive doctors during a very scary time.Thanks in part to this fast and efficient In response, six years later I am still in remission.

I feel very comfortable with my neighbors, some of whom have lived here for 50 years. Being a part of this community gives me so much joy.

i love this neighborhood

Geneva has very convenient transportation. When I need to complete chores and errands around town, everything I need—from the supermarket to the post office—is so centrally located.

In London, a household chore takes me half a day. In Geneva, I can accomplish six or seven things in that time.

We’re surrounded by charming bakeries, delightful ice cream parlors, yoga studios, stylish boutiques, cozy cafes and cozy restaurants. Peaceful Lake Geneva is less than a mile from our home, where I often jog, walk and even water ski.

One of my favorite neighborhood bakeries.

Photo: Shizuka McNeil

Geneva is a hub Available for organizations such as the United Nations, World Health Organization, World Economic Forum and Red Cross.This city attracts Diplomats and expats from all over the world. Walking down the streets here you will hear people speaking different languages.

My children grew up speaking French, English, German and Japanese. (Even though there’s a strong international presence here, you have to be willing to learn some French in order to fully integrate into the community.)

Geneva has a wonderful café culture, with plenty of places to enjoy a meal and people-watch.

Photo: Shizuka McNeil

I love that we can go to so many places because the international airport is less than half an hour from the city center. One drawback is the lack of direct flights to certain parts of the United States. These stopovers sometimes make my family in Japan seem even more distant.

The advantage of our location is that within 30 minutes of driving in any direction from Geneva you can enjoy stunning alpine landscapes, ideal for hiking and skiing. By car we can easily visit France, Italy, Germany and Austria.

when my children grow up I wish I could have spent more time in the United States and Japan, but Geneva will always be my home.

McNeil Shizuka is a financial expert based in Geneva and Aviation Financial Literacy. Shizuka is an experienced speaker, investor, and devoted mother of two children. Her goal is to economically empower women around the world.

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