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Here is where rents are most expensive in Switzerland

The average monthly rent in Switzerland in 1,329 Swiss francs (€1,170), new figures show. Here is where you can expect to pay the most – and the least.

Published: 21 February 2019 20:33 CET
Here is where rents are most expensive in Switzerland
The Swiss city of Zug in summer. File photo: Depositphotos

The latest figures from the Federal Statistics Office (FSO) look at 2017. They show the average rent across Switzerland that year was almost unchanged from 2016 (when it was 1,322 francs).

At a canton by canton level, the highest rents were in the wealthy, low-tax canton of Zug, in Zurich, and in Schwyz – where taxes are also low. Again, there was very little movement in prices from 2016 to 2017.

At the other end of the scale, the cheapest average rents were to be found in the cantons of Jura and Neuchâtel (both in western Switzerland) and in the eastern Swiss canton of Glarus.

But a straight canton by canton comparison is obviously not that useful, as what you actually get for your 'average rent' is going to be very different depending on what part of Switzerland you live in.

However, figures from the Swiss Real Estate Offer Index and property portal Immoscout 24 provide more detail in terms of an 'apples with apples' comparison.

These figures show the average rental price for 100m2 apartments across Switzerland last year – although only at the level of ‘large regions’.

They reveal the Zurich region was most expensive – 2,620 francs for a 100m2 apartment last year. The Lake Geneva region came second (2,450 francs) and the central Switzerland region was third (2,205 francs).

Meanwhile, the cheapest region was eastern Switzerland (1,829 francs for a 100m2 apartment last year).

Further FSO statistics for 2017 that can also help with price comparisons reveal average prices for 3–4 room apartments across Switzerland – although size is not factored in here.

These FSO figures – which are not very different from the numbers in the chart above – show that the canton of Zug had the most expensive average rental price for 3-4 room apartments in Switzerland in 2017 (1,869 francs), followed by Zurich (1,606 francs) and Schwyz (1,595 francs).

Again, the cheapest average rents for 3-4 room apartments were in the cantons of Jura, Neuchâtel and Glarus.

Switzerland's biggest renters

The new FSO figures show three out of ten Swiss households pay a rent of less than 1,000 francs.

The highest proportion of renters are in Basel (84 percent of all households) and Geneva (74 percent). In the canton of Zurich, the figure is 69 percent. Swiss wide, it's 59 percent.

Read also: Eight things to know before renting in Switzerland

 

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LIVING IN SWITZERLAND

Checklist: What you need to do if you move house in Switzerland

Moving from one house or apartment in Switzerland to another is not as simple as just packing up your furniture. Instead, the process involves quite a few administrative tasks.

Published: 25 January 2024 12:10 CET
Checklist: What you need to do if you move house in Switzerland

Anyone who has ever moved, whether in Switzerland or elsewhere, knows it is not just a matter of simple logistics.

In fact, whether you are relocating to another town or canton, or just to another neighbourhood, moving is a big, expensive, time-consuming, and stressful experience.

These are various tasks you will have to cross off your list, one by one.

Getting your old apartment in order

It goes without saying that before you move out, you must make sure to leave the place clean and in order. Most people hire a cleaning company to do so, though you can, of course, do this yourself.

If, for instance, you broke or damaged anything while living in the apartment, you must repair it before you leave.

The condition of the apartment will be assessed during the final inspection process, when the landlord or the management company will write down all damages which you are responsible for either repairing yourself or paying someone else to do it for you.

You are not officially off the hook with your previous landlord until this process is completed.

De-register your old address and register the new one

Whether you are moving across the country or just across the street, this is an obligatory step.

You must let your ‘old’ commune’s population office (Einwohnerkontrolle / Contrôle des habitants/ Controllo abitanti) know you are leaving, and from which date.

You can do so either in person or (if available) online.

Then, when you settle in a new home, you have 14 days to announce your arrival in your new municipality, though in some places the deadline may be longer.

You will need the following documents:

  • A passport or ID card for each member of the family, in addition to a passport-sized photo for everyone
  • Documents relating to your family status — whether you are single, married, and with children
  • Your work or residency permit 
  • Your lease contract or proof of home ownership
  • Your health insurance card or proof of your current health insurance policy.

The rules are the same regardless of where you arrive from, that is, if you are Swiss, an EU citizen or from a third country, however the supporting documentation may vary. 

Some cantons may require other or additional documents, which you can find out ahead of time on your commune or canton’s website.

READ ALSO: Why you need to tell Swiss authorities where you live 

Inform the post office about your change of address

To ensure that your mail arrives at your new home, fill out the ‘change of address’ form online at least four days before your move. 

Four days is a minimum required time for the post office to process the address change and register it in the electronic database.

If you wait longer, your mail will continue to be delivered to  the old address.

You also should notify these companies of your move and new address:

  • Your mobile telephone / internet provider (if you still have a fixed phone, you should have it switched off at the old address and re-activated at the new one)
  • Your bank
  • Your insurance companies (health, car, and any other ones you have, both mandatory and optional)
  • Your doctor / dentist

If you forget to inform anyone of your new address, no worries — the post office will automatically forward the letters to you, provided your notified them of the change (see above).

What about the tax office?

You don’t have to do a thing.

Your local commune will automatically inform tax authorities of your move, so there is no chance whatsoever that they won’t find you.

Rental versus owned property

If you move into a rental property, you don’t need to, in most cases, notify utility providers like the electric company of your move.

But if you are going to live in your own house, then you must let the local power company know to switch on your electricity supply.
 

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