Where Does Swiss Household Money Go? A Focus on Housing Costs
Swiss household data for 2023 shows the averages for income, mandatory expenditure and savings. To interpret the housing burden, the limitations of averages must also be taken into account.
In 2023, the average monthly gross income of Swiss households was approximately CHF 10,340. Of this, an average of CHF 3,154 went toward mandatory expenses and CHF 5,049 toward consumption expenditure. Data from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (Bundesamt für Statistik, BFS) national household averages: they show the scale of expenditure but do not describe an individual family’s budget. This is particularly relevant for housing, where the location of the home and household income together determine the financial burden.
Average gross and disposable income
The BFS household budget survey, Haushaltsbudgeterhebung (HABE), examines household income and expenditure. According to the 2023 data, average monthly gross income was approximately CHF 10,340, while average disposable income was CHF 7,186. Disposable income is the amount remaining after mandatory expenses have been deducted. Of gross income, 73.6% came from employment income, while 20.8% came from pensions and social benefits. Source: BFS, 2023 household data.
The average should not be read as a “typical” household income: 61% of households had disposable income below the national average of CHF 7,186. For a family planning to move to Switzerland, the national average is therefore, at most, a benchmark. Expected income and expenditure should be set out side by side separately. Source: BFS.
Mandatory deductions and consumption expenditure
In 2023, mandatory expenses averaged CHF 3,154 per month, representing 30.5% of gross income. Within this amount, mandatory health insurance premiums accounted for 6.7% of gross income. The tax burden varies significantly by canton and municipality, so the same gross income does not leave every place of residence with the same amount for the household. Source: BFS.
Average monthly consumption expenditure was CHF 5,049, or 48.8% of gross income. The two categories should be considered separately: mandatory expenses are taken into account when calculating disposable income, while consumption expenditure shows what households spent their money on. When assessing how much can be allocated to housing, it is therefore not enough to start from gross salary alone. Source: BFS.
Housing and energy: the largest item of consumption expenditure
Housing and energy represent the largest item of consumption expenditure. Nevertheless, the national expenditure pattern does not provide a single housing budget applicable to every family. rents vary significantly by canton and region; in addition, household disposable income affects the burden represented by the same housing cost.
The 2023 HABE data may only partially reflect the subsequent effects on rents. The 2025–2026 housing market situation so it should not be read as though its costs were already fully reflected in the 2023 household averages. The earlier budget data and the later housing market indicators relate to different periods.
Rent burden, housing shortage and regional differences
The picture of the housing shortage or nationwide rents alone does not determine whether a specific rental property is affordable. This is determined jointly by the cost of the selected property, the place of residence and the financial situation of the household concerned. Percentage-based rules of thumb for the rent burden do not replace this individual assessment.
The burden is not distributed evenly. A BFS publication states that, in the lower middle class, one in ten people lives in a household where housing costs exceed 40% of disposable income. This indicator concerns housing costs, not rent alone. It does not mean that 40% would be an appropriate threshold for every household.
Savings and the situation of low-income households
Average monthly savings in 2023 amounted to CHF 1,736, or 16.8% of gross income. However, this does not mean that most households were able to set aside this amount. Households in the lowest income bracket, with gross monthly income below CHF 4,839, often showed negative savings, meaning they spent more than their income. In this group, 60% of households are retired households. Source: BFS, income and savings.
For households living in or moving to Switzerland, statistics are therefore a starting point, not a ready-made budget. Expected housing costs must be compared with actual disposable income, taking the local tax burden and other regular expenses into account. Neither the individual rent burden nor expected savings can be inferred directly from the national average.
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In Brief
In 2023, Swiss households had an average gross monthly income of CHF 10 340, of which CHF 3 154 went to mandatory expenditure and CHF 5 049 to consumption expenditure. Housing and energy represented the largest item of consumption expenditure, but the actual burden varies by household and location.
Key Takeaways
- The average gross monthly income was approximately CHF 10 340 in 2023, while disposable income was CHF 7 186.
- Mandatory expenditure averaged CHF 3 154 per month, while consumption expenditure amounted to CHF 5 049.
- Housing and energy were the largest item of consumption expenditure, but rents and housing costs vary by canton, region and income level.
- In the lower middle class, one in ten people lived in a household where housing costs exceeded 40% of disposable income.
- Households with a gross monthly income below CHF 4 839 often recorded negative savings; 60% of households in this group were retired households.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the average monthly income of Swiss households in 2023?
Average monthly gross income was approximately CHF 10 340, while average disposable income was CHF 7 186.
What proportion of gross income did mandatory expenditure represent?
Mandatory expenditure averaged CHF 3 154 per month, equivalent to 30.5% of gross income.
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