Swiss rents vary widely by canton and city. Here's the 2026 picture for a 3.5-room apartment (gross, excluding Nebenkosten).
Average 3.5-room gross rent by city (2026)
| City | Avg 3.5-room gross |
|---|---|
| Zurich | ~CHF 2,800 |
| Geneva | ~CHF 2,700 |
| Zug | ~CHF 2,600 |
| Basel | ~CHF 2,400 |
| Lausanne | ~CHF 2,300 |
| Bern | ~CHF 2,200 |
| Winterthur | ~CHF 2,100 |
| Lucerne | ~CHF 2,100 |
| St. Gallen | ~CHF 1,950 |
| Lugano | ~CHF 1,900 |
| Rural (Jura, Glarus) | CHF 1,200-1,600 |
Add Nebenkosten
On top of net rent, budget CHF 150-400/month for heating, hot water, garbage, maintenance. See what are Nebenkosten.
Rent trend
Rents have risen ~2-3% per year, driven by: - The reference interest rate (Referenzzinssatz) - Persistent low vacancy (national ~1.1%, Zurich 0.07%) - Inflation pass-through
Budgeting rule
Swiss landlords expect gross income of at least 3× the rent. For an average CHF 2,400 flat, you need ~CHF 7,200/month gross. See how much income you need.
Where rent is cheapest
See the cheapest city to rent in Switzerland and cheaper areas around Zurich.