01
1,0 %
Vacancy rate
Switzerland 2025
Renting and finding a home
Where can you still find affordable apartments in Switzerland? The best municipalities in 2026
Despite the housing shortage and rising asking rents, some Swiss municipalities still offer comparatively affordable rental apartments. In parts of the Jura, the Neuchâtel Jura, northern Ticino and selected regional centres, home seekers can sometimes get substantially more living space for their budget.
Author: Nikita von Niederhäuser, UrbanHome real estate expert · Reading time: approx. 14 minutes
02
+2,5 %
Asking rents
June 2025 to June 2026
03
CHF 785
Le Locle
Median for small apartments
04
Total costs
not just rent
Include transport costs
Rental market 2026
How is the Swiss rental market developing in 2026?
Affordable rental apartments are harder to find in Switzerland than they were a few years ago. The national vacancy rate fell to 1.0 percent in 2025.
01
48,455 vacant homes
On 1 June 2025, a total of 48,455 vacant homes were recorded in Switzerland, including 37,194 offered for rent.
02
Asking rents are rising
The Homegate Rent Index stood at 134 points in June 2026. Asking rents across Switzerland were 2.5 percent higher than in June 2025.
03
Large regional differences
Significant differences remain between individual municipalities and even neighbourhoods within the same city.
Rents and vacancy rates vary considerably by region. A national average therefore tells you little about any particular municipality.
Methodology
What do we mean by “the best municipalities”?
There is no single municipality that is the best or cheapest for every household. A person living alone needs a different-sized home than a family. Workplace, language, schools, public transport and whether a car is necessary also influence actual housing costs.
The selection considers published median and average asking rents, prices by apartment size, visible supply, vacancy rates as an indicator of availability, and infrastructure and suitability as a regional centre.
M
Median
50 percent cheaper, 50 percent more expensive
Ø
Average
can be raised by a few very expensive listings
25
25th percentile
one quarter is priced at or below this level
Compare municipalities
Affordable apartments in Switzerland: municipalities compared
| Municipality | Current price indicator | Particularly suitable for | Points to consider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Locle NE | Small apartments: median approx. CHF 785; current average approx. CHF 960 | Singles, couples and budget-conscious households | French-speaking region and longer journeys to major employment centres |
| Bonfol JU | 3-room apartments averaged approx. CHF 890 in the dataset | Remote workers and regional employees | A small number of listings can strongly affect statistics |
| Biasca TI | 3.5 rooms: median approx. CHF 1,000; current average approx. CHF 1,190 | Couples, small families and Ticino commuters | Consider mobility costs and the Italian-speaking region |
| Mümliswil-Ramiswil SO | 4.5 rooms: median approx. CHF 1,198 | Families seeking plenty of living space | Limited supply and a car may be needed |
| Moutier JU | 25 percent of listings around CHF 825 or less | Families, couples and people working in the region | Consider commuting and the language region |
| Saint-Imier BE | 25 percent of listings around CHF 850 or less | Households in the Bernese Jura and watchmaking region | A smaller job market than in major cities |
| La Chaux-de-Fonds NE | 25 percent of listings around CHF 890 or less | Home seekers wanting urban amenities | Check climate, altitude and commuting time |
| Delémont JU | District average approx. CHF 1,190 | Households needing regional infrastructure | City apartments may be more expensive than the district average |
| St. Gallen SG | Current average approx. CHF 1,350 | Students, professionals and families | Neighbourhood, condition and university proximity affect prices |
| Reinach AG | 25 percent of listings around CHF 1,250 or less | Commuters between Aarau, Lenzburg and Lucerne | New developments may be substantially more expensive |
These figures are price indicators derived from published listing data, not guaranteed rents. Room count, floor area, building age, renovation standard, service charges and location can materially affect the actual rent.
NE
Le Locle
particularly good for small apartments
TI
Biasca
affordable 3.5-room apartments
SO
Mümliswil-Ramiswil
interesting for families
Affordable municipalities
Three particularly interesting examples
01
Le Locle · Neuchâtel
Particularly affordable small apartments
Le Locle is one of Switzerland’s most notable affordable locations for smaller rental homes. Together with Le Prévoux, the reported median for small apartments was around CHF 785. Current listing data also indicate an average of about CHF 960 across different apartment sizes.
The municipality is particularly suitable for singles, couples, remote workers and employees in regional industry.
Advantages: very low rents, a comparatively large visible rental supply, basic urban services and proximity to the watchmaking and precision-engineering industries.
Points to consider: French-speaking, higher-altitude region; calculate commuting time and transport costs carefully.
02
Bonfol · Jura
Very low rents with limited supply
In a nationwide municipal analysis, Bonfol recorded an average asking rent of around CHF 890 for a 3-room apartment.
This municipality may suit households working in the region, people who often work from home or those deliberately seeking a rural location.
Data note: Only a few apartments may be advertised each year in small municipalities. Individual listings can strongly affect the average.
03
Biasca · Ticino
Affordable 3.5-room apartments
Biasca is among the most affordable published locations for 3.5-room apartments. The reported median was around CHF 1,000 per month.
Current listing analyses across different sizes indicate an average of about CHF 1,190; a quarter of the properties were offered for around CHF 980 or less.
Biasca may appeal to couples, smaller families and people working in northern Ticino.
Other locations
Other municipalities offering good value for money
01
Mümliswil-Ramiswil SO
A median of around CHF 1,198 was reported for 4.5-room apartments. Especially interesting for families seeking more space who can be flexible on location.
02
Moutier JU
A quarter of the analysed asking rents were around CHF 825 or less. A reported vacancy rate of about 6 percent suggests a less pressured market. Moutier has belonged to the canton of Jura since 1 January 2026.
03
Saint-Imier BE
The lowest quarter of asking rents was around CHF 850 or less. Relevant for employees in the Bernese Jura and the regional watchmaking industry.
04
La Chaux-de-Fonds NE
A quarter of advertised rents were around CHF 890 or less. The reported vacancy rate was around 3.6 percent.
05
Delémont JU
Rental properties in the Delémont district were listed for an average of around CHF 1,190. As the cantonal capital, Delémont combines affordability with regional services.
06
St. Gallen SG
The current average asking rent was around CHF 1,350. Interesting for people needing a university, major employers, culture and extensive public transport.
07
Reinach AG
The cheapest quarter of asking rents was around CHF 1,250 or less. The municipality may suit commuters travelling between Aarau, Lenzburg, the Wynental and Lucerne.
Total costs
A low rent does not automatically mean low housing costs
When moving to another municipality, you should compare more than the advertised net rent. A cheap apartment can end up costing more because of a long commute, required parking or high heating bills.
1
Rent
Net rent and service charges
2
Energy
Electricity, internet and heating system
3
Mobility
Public transport, car, fuel and parking
4
Taxes
Municipal tax burden
5
Family
Childcare and journey to school
6
Moving in
Deposit, moving costs and cleaning
Choosing where to live
Affordable village or good-value regional centre?
01
Small municipality
Often lower rents.
More peace and sometimes more living space.
Fewer listings.
Sometimes limited infrastructure or a car is necessary.
02
Regional centre
More available apartments.
Better infrastructure and public transport.
More jobs, schools and shops.
Rents are usually somewhat higher than in small villages.
Apartment search
In
7
steps to find affordable listings
01
Search several municipalities in the same region at once.
02
Activate a property alert for new listings.
03
Stay flexible about room count and floor area.
04
Add service charges, parking and mobility costs to the rent.
05
Prepare an application dossier with income evidence and a debt enforcement register extract.
06
Check housing cooperatives and municipal listings separately.
07
Check unusually cheap listings and never transfer money without verification.
Checklist
Is this affordable municipality right for me?
01–04
Listings and mobility
Enough current listings of the required size
Commute tested in both directions
Public transport, car and parking costs calculated
Service charges and heating system checked
05–08
Everyday life and budget
Shops, medical care, schools and childcare checked
Language region and municipal taxes considered
Rental deposit and moving costs budgeted
Neighbouring municipalities compared
Sources
Sources and information date
Information date: 1 August 2026. Asking rents can change daily. The stated figures are not guaranteed rental prices and do not replace a comparison of current listings.
More about renting
Related guides
01
How can I find an affordable apartment?
02
Save on utility costs in a rental apartment
03
Rent reduction possible – but who actually requests it?
04
Advantages and disadvantages of a rental deposit
05
All guides to renting
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions about affordable apartments in Switzerland
The most important answers explained briefly.
7
Questions & answers
Particularly affordable listings can be found in parts of the canton of Jura, the Neuchâtel Jura, northern Ticino and certain rural municipalities in Solothurn. The cheapest municipality depends on the size of the apartment.
Le Locle and Le Prévoux are among the most affordable published locations for small apartments. The median was around CHF 785 per month.
Biasca stands out with a reported median of around CHF 1,000. Moutier, Saint-Imier and other Jura municipalities can also offer affordable apartments.
Mümliswil-Ramiswil has a particularly low reported median for 4.5-room apartments. Families should also compare Moutier and La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Net rent is often lower, but additional costs for a car, parking, longer commutes or childcare can reduce the advantage.
They provide a useful guide. In small municipalities in particular, a few unusual listings can strongly influence the average.
Apply as soon as possible when a suitable property appears. Keep your application ready but still check the property, contract and landlord carefully.
UrbanHome guides
View sources and data →
Summary
Affordable apartments still exist – but not everywhere
Anyone looking for an affordable rental apartment in 2026 should compare more than the major cities. Le Locle, Biasca, Moutier, La Chaux-de-Fonds and other municipalities in the Jura, Neuchâtel Jura, northern Ticino and Solothurn can offer significantly lower asking rents.
The decisive factor is the full cost of rent, service charges, mobility and everyday expenses.
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