A family from Geneva, who moved to France only to return to Geneva five years later, was interviewed by the Geneva newspaper GHI about their hellish experience.
Unable to buy in Geneva and attracted by cheaper property in France they moved to Annecy in 2010. Shortly after their dream started to turn into a nightmare.
First they realised that they had underestimated the commute, which turned out to consume three hours a day and cost hundreds of Euros a month in road tolls and petrol. French hospitals were the next unpleasant shock. Long waiting times, masses of paperwork and regular strikes all part of the pain. Then in 2012 Francois Hollande’s tax changes stretched their finances almost to breaking point. In the end they decided it was cheaper to live in Geneva, sold their house in France and went back to renting in Geneva.
Statistics suggest they are not alone. An article in the Tribune de Genève reports that there were more Swiss returning to Geneva than leaving in 2014, something unseen for decades. Last year more than 3,600 Swiss came back to Geneva, an increase of 50% in two years. Of the more than 3,600 around 2,500 returned from France. The total number of returnees is likely to be much higher once non-Swiss internationals are included.
