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These maps reveal where rent prices are highest in Switzerland

A series of maps based on city tram lines show how much rent you can expect to pay for a 70-square metre three-bedroom apartment in Switzerland’s largest cities.

Published: 15 July 2019 16:27 CEST
Updated: 12 March 2022 11:02 CET
These maps reveal where rent prices are highest in Switzerland
Rents in Bern are cheaper than in Zurich or Switzerland. File photo: Depositphotos

The maps produced by the property portal homegate.ch reveal that Zurich is home to the neighourhoods with the most expensive average rents.

The priciest area in Zurich is around the Paradeplatz tram stop where a 70-square metre, three-bedroom apartment will set you back on average 3,760 Swiss francs (€3,390) a month. That is 520 francs more than two years ago, according to homegate.ch.

Read also: Swiss village plans to ‘sell houses for one franc’

Other very expensive parts of Zurich include the area near the Bahnhofstrasse/HB tram stop (an average 3,320 francs) and at Rudolf-Brun-Brücke (3,330 francs).

But the Zurich city map also shows that far cheaper rents can be found if you are prepared to live further away along the city’s tram lines.

Click on the map above to see a larger version.

The cheapest rents are around the Roswiesen tramp stop in District 12. At an average of 1,370 francs, rents here are just 40 percent of the prices you would pay in Paradeplatz.

Geneva takes second place overall

Three Geneva tram stop areas can boast rents of over 3,000 francs a month for 70-square metre three-bedroom apartments – Bel-Air and Bel-Air Cité (both 3,040 francs) and Molard (3,010 francs).

One other fact stands out regarding Geneva. There are very few tram stops where rents are under 2,000 francs – a symptom of the city’s shortage of rental apartments.

Click the map above to see a larger version.

Bern ‘a less expensive option’

The Swiss capital of Bern is cheaper than both Zurich and Geneva. The most expensive average rents are around the Bärenplatz tram stop (2,480 francs) and there are several other pricey areas along the river. But in general, average rents for 70-square metre three-bedroom apartments rarely exceed 2,000 francs in the city.

In Basel, the most expensive average rents can be found around the Theater tram stop (an average 2,130 francs). At the other end of the scale, rents around Hofmatt are 1,320 francs.

The homegate.ch figures are based on a sample of 50 rental properties in each tram stop area from January 2017 to May 2019.

Read also: Why you may be entitled to a rent reduction in Switzerland

A version of this article first appeared on The Local in 2019. 

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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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