Living in Switzerland: cost of living, rents and the salary you need

Updated 2 October 2026

How much do you need to earn to live in Switzerland? Here are rents in the main cities, the minimum wage, healthcare, residence permits and moving costs, with the official source of every figure. For your own case, the calculator starts from your real budget, in your city, and moves it to Switzerland.

Work out my budget in Switzerland

Example: the same life, elsewhere

A single person living in London in a one-bedroom home, with the average spending of a similar household, spends about £3,350 a month. To keep the same life in Geneva, they would need about CHF 3,180 (≈ €3,360) net a month locally (−15%), i.e. 0.8 times the Geneva minimum wage.

For a couple with two children in a two-bedroom home (state school), it would take about CHF 5,860 (≈ €6,180) net a month in Geneva, i.e. 1.4 times the Geneva minimum wage.

Calculated on 2 October 2026 with the official averages of London and the destination’s prices. Yours depends on your city, home and habits: the calculator works it out in a few minutes, no sign-up.

Rents in Switzerland

City	Studio	1 bedroom	2 bedrooms	3-bedroom house	1 bedroom in euros
Geneva	CHF 1,040	CHF 1,270	CHF 1,550	CHF 1,820	€1,340
Zurich	CHF 1,160	CHF 1,580	CHF 1,810	CHF 2,110	€1,660
Lausanne	CHF 940	CHF 1,250	CHF 1,540	CHF 1,890	€1,320
Basel	CHF 950	CHF 1,250	CHF 1,510	CHF 1,980	€1,320
Bern	CHF 840	CHF 1,130	CHF 1,350	CHF 1,600	€1,190
Lucerne	CHF 930	CHF 1,260	CHF 1,510	CHF 1,730	€1,320
Lugano	CHF 830	CHF 1,090	CHF 1,300	CHF 1,540	€1,150
Zug	CHF 1,070	CHF 1,650	CHF 1,960	CHF 2,370	€1,740
St. Gallen	CHF 780	CHF 1,120	CHF 1,370	CHF 1,570	€1,180
Fribourg	CHF 790	CHF 1,120	CHF 1,360	CHF 1,610	€1,180
Neuchâtel	CHF 710	CHF 930	CHF 1,070	CHF 1,360	€980
Winterthur	CHF 1,160	CHF 1,580	CHF 1,810	CHF 2,110	€1,660

Monthly rent in CHF, outside the most sought-after areas. Studio 28 m², 1 bedroom 45 m², 2 bedrooms 65 m², house 95 m² where rent is known per m². FSO, 2024 structural survey: average net monthly rent by number of rooms, by canton, updated with the rent index (August 2026).

Wages

The Geneva minimum wage is CHF 4,090 (≈ €4,310) net a month (CHF 4,370 gross).

It varies by region: amount in Geneva.

Median wage: CHF 7,020 (≈ €7,410) gross a month.

Healthcare

Basic insurance is compulsory within 3 months of arrival, for every family member. Compare all insurers’ premiums on the official website.

In the example above: basic health insurance is compulsory and everyone pays their own premium, even with a job: we count £680 a month.

Visa and residence permit

Europeans register with their municipality and receive a B permit. Outside the European Union, the employer must obtain a work permit, granted mostly to highly qualified profiles.

Cost: CHF 80 (≈ €90) per person (CHF 40 per child).

National visa, then a residence permit issued by the canton.

To live on income from abroad: outside the European Union, only for retirees over 55, with sufficient means and ties to Switzerland.

Moving in and everyday life

Deposit: 3 months’ rent
Agency fees: No fees for the tenant
School: Free state school
Electricity: CHF 0.30 per kWh
Home cleaning: CHF 20 an hour

Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to live in Geneva?

For a single person keeping the same life as in London: about CHF 3,180 (≈ €3,360) net a month, i.e. 0.8 times the Geneva minimum wage.

How much is rent in Geneva?

About CHF 1,270 (≈ €1,340) a month for a one-bedroom home and CHF 1,550 for a two-bedroom home, according to FSO, 2024 structural survey.

Do you need a residence permit to live in Switzerland?

Europeans register with their municipality and receive a B permit. Outside the European Union, the employer must obtain a work permit, granted mostly to highly qualified profiles. Cost: CHF 80 (≈ €90) per person (CHF 40 per child).