Revealed: Swiss Cantons with Cheapest and Most Expensive Rental Homes

Discover the latest study from the FSO on Swiss rental prices, with one region paying nearly 400 francs above the national average.

A recent study conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has shed light on the varying rental costs across different Swiss cantons. The data reveals that tenants in certain regions of Switzerland are paying significantly more for housing compared to the national average. With only 36 percent of Swiss households owning property, the country boasts one of the lowest home ownership rates in Europe.

In 2022, 1.4 million households in Switzerland owned property, while 2.4 million households rented. Canton Basel-Stadt has the lowest home ownership rate at 15.5 percent, followed by Geneva (18.9 percent), Zurich (26.8 percent), and Vaud (30.1 percent). On the other hand, Canton Valais has the highest home ownership rate at 53.8 percent.

The average rental cost in Switzerland in 2022 was 1,412 francs per month, representing a 1.3 percent increase from the previous year. However, with rental costs continuing to rise throughout 2023, this average is expected to climb further once the data for the current year is compiled. Canton Jura emerged as the most affordable place to rent a home in Switzerland, with average monthly rental costs amounting to 961 francs in 2022.

Conversely, Canton Zug was identified as the most expensive canton for renting a house or apartment, with average monthly rental costs reaching 1,850 francs in 2022. This figure is significantly higher than the national average and reflects the city's reputation as one of the best and most expensive places to live in Switzerland.

The study also highlighted Canton Schwyz as another canton with high rental costs, averaging 1,593 francs per month. In total, seven Swiss cantons were found to have housing costs exceeding the national average. The top 10 cantons with the highest rental costs include Zug, Zurich, Schwyz, Geneva, Nidwalden, Basel-Land, Vaud, Aargau, Lucerne, and Basel-Stadt.

On the other hand, the cantons with the lowest average rents in Switzerland include Jura, Neuchâtel, Valais, Ticino, Glarus, Solothurn, Uri, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Schaffhausen, and Bern.