Income to rent
| Monthly household income (CHF) | One third (CHF) | One quarter (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 4,500 | 1,500 | 1,125 |
| 6,000 | 2,000 | 1,500 |
| 7,500 | 2,500 | 1,875 |
| 9,000 | 3,000 | 2,250 |
| 12,000 | 4,000 | 3,000 |
A rule of thumb, not a law
Swiss tenancy law contains no income limit. The one-third rule is a habit of landlords and agencies, and the sources differ:
- HEV Schweiz (homeowners' association): not more than one third of monthly net income.
- Mieterinnen- und Mieterverband (tenants' association): rent above one third of household income is a sign of doubt about the ability to pay, but the formula should not be applied rigidly.
- Budgetberatung Schweiz (umbrella body for budget advice): housing costs of not more than a quarter of net income.
So ask each landlord two things: gross or net, and with or without ancillary costs. Count the household: two incomes are normally added together.
What the market asks
Asking rents in the aptari feed on 9 November 2026 (rents shown in listings, not official statistics):
- Of 33,685 homes with a rent, 30% ask up to CHF 1,500 and 59% up to CHF 2,000.
- Median asking rent, all sizes: Switzerland CHF 1,860.
| City | Median asking rent (CHF) | Income at which this is one third (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva | 3,050 | 9,150 |
| Zurich | 2,550 | 7,650 |
| Winterthur | 2,162 | 6,486 |
| Lausanne | 1,940 | 5,820 |
| Bern | 1,924 | 5,772 |
| Basel | 1,755 | 5,265 |
| St. Gallen | 1,512 | 4,536 |
Your own budget
- Write down your income after tax, social deductions and health insurance.
- Add ancillary costs to the rent.
- Plan the deposit: for a home it can be up to three months' rent (Art. 257e OR).
- Decide your limit before you search, not after you fall for a flat.
How aptari helps
On each listing aptari shows a Match Score from 0 to 100: how well you fit, from your income against the rent, your checked documents and the listing's smoking and pet rules, with the facts shown. It follows fixed rules and measures fit, not your chance of getting the flat. Nationality, religion, age and gender are never used. The feed is free to browse without login.
This is general information, not legal advice.