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Housing is particularly expensive in SwitzerlandThis is no secret. Anyone who lives in Zurich, for example, knows that the rental costs of the dream flat and the income unfortunately do not always coincide. Therefore, the question always arises: How much rent can I afford?
In this article, we go into the rental costs, rules of thumb and Rule of thumb between salary and rent and everything else that needs to be considered!
Popular guides recommend that the Rental cost wage ratio about 1:3 to keep. The ratio refers to the net income, whereby the tax reserve should already be included in the budget. Accordingly, if you pay CHF 1,500 in rent, you should earn at least CHF 4,500 net.
At the Rent Salary Rule of thumb you should, however, take a few things into consideration!
To work with Incidental or unforeseeable costs not to walk into a trap, I recommend you a nest egg build up. This can serve as a safety cushion in case of an emergency.
You want a more defensive and safe answer to the question, how much can a flat cost?
If you are not quite sure about your income situation (who can be?), then we recommend that you rather use the Ratio 1:4.
For a flat with a rent of CHF 2,000, the household should therefore earn at least CHF 8,000 net per month to cover the rent. Rental costs not to exceed wage ratio. Whether this sum is earned by one or two people in total is irrelevant in the first instance.
TipUnfortunately, Swiss couples rarely charge the maximum rent. So talk to each other as a couple or family and agree on a maximum rent that won't be a financial burden. People's feelings differ from person to person, so discuss this in detail.
The rules of thumb should be adapted to your personal situation. Here are the most important scenarios:
When which rule of thumb makes sense
| Situation | Customisation | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Old building/high ancillary costs | 1:4 | Higher ongoing heating and repair costs |
| Home office (3+ days) | 1:3 or more | Home is also a workplace, partially tax-deductible |
| Singles in Zurich/Geneva | 35-40% realistic | Inevitably higher rent in expensive cities |
| Families with children | 1:4 recommended | Additional costs for children reduce the housing budget |
Tip: Carry out a "financial stress test": Would the rent still be affordable in the event of an unexpected financial burden? The right rent amount is not a fixed formula, but must fit your overall situation.
To help you plan your budget, we have put together three typical scenarios with concrete figures. These examples are intended as a guide to how different households can structure their finances with regard to rental costs.
| Cost type | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Net income | CHF 5'000 |
| Maximum rent (1:3 rule) | CHF 1'670 |
| Maximum rent (1:4 rule) | CHF 1'250 |
| Fixed costs | |
| Health insurance (basic insurance) | CHF 320 |
| Tax reserves | CHF 750 |
| Mobility (public transport season ticket) | CHF 100 |
| Internet/mobile phone | CHF 120 |
| Variable costs | |
| Food | CHF 500 |
| Household/utility costs | CHF 150 |
| Clothing/Personal | CHF 200 |
| Health/reserves | CHF 100 |
| Leisure/outing | CHF 400 |
| Saving/Investing | |
| Nest egg/investments | CHF 500 |
| Pillar 3a | CHF 300 |
| Remaining for contingencies | CHF 490 - 910** |
**Depending on the selected rental cost rule
| Cost type | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Net income (joint) | CHF 9'000 |
| Maximum rent (1:3 rule) | CHF 3'000 |
| Maximum rent (1:4 rule) | CHF 2'250 |
| Fixed costs | |
| Health insurance (2 persons) | CHF 640 |
| Tax reserves | CHF 1'350 |
| Mobility (public transport or car) | CHF 350 |
| Internet/mobile phone | CHF 180 |
| Variable costs | |
| Food | CHF 900 |
| Household/utility costs | CHF 250 |
| Clothing/Personal | CHF 400 |
| Health/reserves | CHF 200 |
| Leisure/outing | CHF 600 |
| Saving/Investing | |
| Nest egg/investments | CHF 800 |
| Pillar 3a (2 persons) | CHF 600 |
| Remaining for contingencies | CHF 730 - 1'480** |
**Depending on the selected rental cost rule
| Cost type | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Net income (joint) | CHF 11'000 |
| Maximum rent (1:3 rule) | CHF 3'670 |
| Maximum rent (1:4 rule) | CHF 2'750 |
| Fixed costs | |
| Health insurance (family) | CHF 850 |
| Tax reserves | CHF 1'600 |
| Mobility (car and public transport) | CHF 500 |
| Internet/mobile phone | CHF 200 |
| Variable costs | |
| Food | CHF 1'200 |
| Household/utility costs | CHF 300 |
| Clothing/Personal | CHF 500 |
| Childcare | CHF 750 |
| Health/reserves | CHF 250 |
| Leisure/outing | CHF 450 |
| Saving/Investing | |
| Nest egg/investments | CHF 800 |
| Pillar 3a | CHF 500 |
| Children's savings account | CHF 200 |
| Remaining for contingencies | CHF 230 - 1'150** |
**Depending on the selected rental cost rule
Tip: These budgets serve as a guide and should be adapted to your personal situation. For an even more precise calculation, use our interactive budget calculator at the top of the article.
"Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others".
We have compiled our top selection for you from all our tests and experience reports:
Moving into your first home is an exciting step towards independence - but often more financially challenging than expected. While many costs remain invisible at home, the full financial responsibility only becomes apparent in your own household.
Rental budget calculated according to the 1:3 or 1:4 rule
Deposit and removal costs saved up
Furnishing budget realistically planned (second-hand options included)
Monthly household budget created
Insurance policies compared and concluded
Possible support options clarified (family, scholarships)
With thorough preparation, moving into your own home will be a success - without financial worries overshadowing your new-found freedom.
Have you ever turned the question around? Instead of asking yourself how much the rent can cost or how expensive my flat can be, ask yourself: What is housing worth to me?
All the guides, rules of thumb for rent etc. are all well and good, but the question is what is housing worth to you? Housing is essential and also fulfils the Basic need for security, perhaps even for development. Schwiizerfranke.com is not a guide to saving money, but rather takes you by the hand to help you Dreams to be able to fulfil.
Others lease a sports car for horrendous fees or constantly buy luxury items and designer fashion. None of this should be condemned, because everyone has different needs.
If a nice flat is worth proportionally more to you, then turn up the spending there (consciously!). In that case, I'm happy for you and your beautiful flat 🙂
"Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others".
We have compiled our top selection for you from all our tests and experience reports:
Questions such as "how much rent can I afford?" or "how high can the rent be?" recede somewhat into the background with the above approach.
Just be good enough to keep a handle on your expenditure. What you spend more of there, you should save in other areas that are less important to you. It doesn't have to be a new car every 3 years? Or a nice Airbnb instead of a luxury hotel is enough for you?
Ask yourself what you enjoy doing, where spending money is really fun, and then do it more! In this way, with the same amount of money, you can create a new Create a personally higher standard of living.
Ultimately, the answer to the question of how expensive my flat can be is Always individual and can never be answered in a generalised way using a rental salary calculator.
Even according to the rule of thumb, the community kept asking how much a flat should cost as a maximum. Please always note that your rental costs do not burden you too much. Even if you are flexible as a tenant and can move to a cheaper flat at any time, the maximum rent should not exceed your budget. Household budget not "blow up".
The ideal rent level is not a fixed formula, but depends on your individual living situation. The rules of thumb of 1:3 or 1:4 provide valuable guidance, which you can tailor to your personal circumstances with our specific adjustments.
The most important things at a glance:
For precise budget and budget planning, use our Digital household budget calculator - This allows you to keep track of all your expenses and make informed decisions.
Working from home, changing priorities or new phases of life can influence your ideal rent amount. With our budget examples, the Rent-income calculator and the situation-specific adjustments, you have all the tools you need to make a smart decision.
How much of your income do you invest in your living situation? And is it worth it to you? Share your experiences in the comments - we look forward to hearing about your individual solutions!
For further financial optimisation:
"Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others".
We have compiled our top selection for you from all our tests and experience reports:
The best way to answer the question "How expensive can rent be?" is to consider your income. A common rule of thumb is that the monthly rent should not exceed 25-30 % of your net income in order to lead a financially balanced life. In addition to the basic rent, this also includes additional costs such as heating and water. In the article above you will find a Rental cost calculatorwhich you can use to determine exactly what amount is appropriate for you.
The question "How much to spend on rent in Switzerland?" can be answered by a rule of thumb: In Switzerland, households should ideally spend no more than 25-30 % of their net income on rent, including utilities.
This limit helps to ensure that there is sufficient financial leeway for further expenses and reserves. This percentage can vary depending on the region and income, especially in more expensive cities such as Zurich or Geneva.
To find the right rent, you can calculate your rent throughout Switzerland. Use the rental cost calculator at the top of the article to better assess your individual situation.
Hello
The 4500.- is the effective net wage without taking into account the taxes (just because before it says something about tax reserves)?
Including taxes - i.e. money already set aside for the tax burden. However, these are all rules of thumb that should only give you a rough idea and direction.
Hello friends
I live at the moment in a cheap apartment, now I have the luck that I work for a great company.
Would like to live nicely for a change, though.
Do you have maybe a tip that I have not yet considered that would be extremely friendly
Kind regards
Have you seen the money saving tips? Savings tips Switzerland 2021
Hello 🙂
Something seems strange to me about the calculator above. If I roughly enter my current situation there, the maximum rent is far too low: income 8k, expenses 3k, rent 2k, savings 3k. But the calculator says I can only afford 650 rent. What is going wrong? I can save 3k a month, so my rent is probably reasonable, right?
Hello Martin
the calculator takes the ratio 1:3 according to your expenses/savings. If you want to save 3k, there is therefore not so much left over that you can calculate with the simple "rule of thumb" 1:3.
The calculator is just to give you a direction. If you can save 3k per month and have your finances under control, you can definitely spend more on your rent 🙂
Kind regards
In my case, the ratio of net wage (incl. deduction for control unit and company car) to rent (incl. utilities, food, internet, Netflix and minor repairs) is 1:2.5
Therefore I don't have a car (company car) which I have to maintain or finance myself and the rent is more than the usual. Therefore I am so satisfied.
Gross wage (can be better compared) of me and my girlfriend in relation to the rent including utilities without food, internet etc. would be 1:4.25
Hello dear colleague
Now I'm a bit confused. Why is the rule of thumb superfluous when buying a home? What may be a rule of thumb when renting is already a FINMA regulation when buying. The banks' affordability calculation clearly states that the cost of the debt in relation to income must not exceed 33%. In practice, there are of course loopholes, but this rule is not "superfluous".
Hey Fabio 🙂
this simply meant that the affordability calculation could not be made with THE rule of thumb for the rent/income ratio, simply because there are two pairs of boots. I agree with you about the 33%, but I didn't want to include the topic of home financing in this article 🙂
Many greetings!