Cost of Living in Switzerland: Real Family Budget June 2026

How much does it cost to live in Switzerland? That is probably the question I hear most from people thinking about moving here. And the answer is always the same: it depends. On the canton, the size of the family, the lifestyle. So instead of giving generic numbers, I decided to start publishing our real family budget, month by month, as a reference for anyone researching the cost of living in Switzerland.

We are a family of four (two adults, two children and a dog) living in the canton of Vaud. This was the first month I started tracking expenses more closely, so the data is still warming up. But it already gives a solid picture of where the money goes.

O Contexto: Período e Perfil

The period covered is June 2026. All amounts are in Swiss francs (CHF) and are approximate. Our profile: two adults (currently one employed), two children, and a dog.

Income: 7,890 CHF

This month we received 7,890.30 CHF into our account. Of that, 6,897.45 CHF came from salary (net) and 992.85 CHF from a tax refund. Tax refunds do not happen every month, but it helps show how a budget can vary.

Salary: 6,897.45 CHF

Tax refund: 992.85 CHF

Total received: 7,890.30 CHF

Savings and Investments: 10.8% of Income

We managed to save 850 CHF in total: 350 CHF went into investments and 500 CHF into savings. That gives us a savings rate of 10.8%. Not amazing, but an honest start for someone getting their finances organized.

One important thing: I do not count investments and savings transfers as expenses. That money is still part of our net worth. It is just allocated differently. So when I talk about expenses, I mean what we actually spent to live.

Investments: 350.00 CHF

Savings transfer: 500.00 CHF

Total saved/invested: 850.00 CHF

Expenses: 6,932 CHF

After savings, we spent about 6,932 CHF to live this month. The budget can vary a lot from month to month.

Where did the money go?

Here is the breakdown of all categories, from most to least expensive:

Rent: 2,345.00 CHF (33.8%)

Travel / vacation (last payment for July trip): 400.00 CHF (5.8%)

Groceries: 1,170.63 CHF (16.9%)

Insurance: 1,074.05 CHF (15.5%)

Other: 536.30 CHF (7.7%)

Pharmacy / vet: 315.46 CHF (4.6%)

Home / utilities: 272.85 CHF (3.9%)

Restaurants / cafes: 259.00 CHF (3.7%)

Fuel: 221.23 CHF (3.2%)

Shopping: 177.95 CHF (2.6%)

Phone: 47.95 CHF (0.7%)

Leisure: 47.00 CHF (0.7%)

Sports: 24.80 CHF (0.4%)

Kids: 23.86 CHF (0.3%)

Transport / parking: 16.05 CHF (0.2%)

What stands out

Rent is by far the biggest item, nearly 34% of the total budget. For the canton of Vaud, 2,345 CHF for a 3.5-room apartment is within the expected range, but it is still the heaviest bill of the month.

Travel and vacation came to 400 CHF this month. It was the last remaining payment for the July trip.

Groceries (1,170 CHF for 4 people) is a useful benchmark for anyone researching food costs in Switzerland. For a family of four, I would say this is pretty realistic, including trips to Denner, Migros, and Coop.

Insurance weighs in at 1,074 CHF, another number that jumps out. Of this, 744 CHF goes to health insurance for all four of us (already with the cantonal subsidy), and 329 CHF to SwissCaution (rent deposit guarantee) paid annually. Health insurance in Switzerland is mandatory, and for a family of four, it is a significant monthly cost.

Detailed Breakdown

Insurance

Health insurance: 744.35 CHF

SwissCaution (rent deposit guarantee): 329.70 CHF (annual)

Pharmacy and vet

Our dog had a vet visit this month: 295.51 CHF. Plus 19.95 CHF at the pharmacy. Having a pet in Switzerland comes with its own costs.

Home utilities

Electricity: 110.00 CHF

Serafe (TV/radio license, quarterly): 83.75 CHF

IKEA / home items: 79.10 CHF

Telecom

Two providers: Salt Mobile (34.95 CHF) and Digital Republic (13.00 CHF), totaling 47.95 CHF. Fixed costs that are always there.

Final Indicators

To wrap up, here are the key numbers:

Total received: 7,890.30 CHF

Total expenses recorded: 6,932.13 CHF

Total saved/invested: 850.00 CHF

Savings rate: 10.8%

Total money allocated this month: 7,782.13 CHF

Conclusion: Is Living in Switzerland Expensive?

It depends. For us, a family of four in the canton of Vaud, the cost of living in Switzerland is high, but it is possible to live comfortably with planning. Rent and insurance are the biggest challenges. Groceries also add up, but you can manage with smart choices.

This month shows how a family budget in Switzerland can vary: there are months with tax refunds, vacations, vet visits. The key is to track and adjust.

If you are thinking about moving to Switzerland, or you already live here and want to compare budgets, I hope these numbers help. Next month I will be back with more updated data on the cost of living in Switzerland.

This is just our personal case. Every family has its own reality.