Which form of temporary housing is the most practical in Switzerland for the first months?

According to the article, short-term sublets and WG rooms are among the most practical solutions. The advantage of a sublet is that it can also be suitable for address registration, while a WG is much cheaper than a hotel or aparthotel.

Is an Airbnb address accepted for address registration in Switzerland?

Usually not. According to the article, an Airbnb or hotel address is generally not accepted as a registered address for Anmeldunghoz, so it is not sufficient on its own if the authorities or an employer ask for a Swiss address.

How long do I have to register in Switzerland?

In most cantons, address registration with the local office is mandatory within 14 days of arrival. For this, you need a valid Swiss address and the required documents.

What documents are needed for a long-term rental contract?

According to the article, you usually need a Swiss employment contract or employer reference letter, a valid residence permit, a Swiss bank account, and a deposit. In many cases, a Swiss reference or previous rental history is also requested.

How much deposit should I expect for temporary housing?

For short-term rentals, a deposit may also be required, typically equal to 1–2 months’ rent. According to the article, under Swiss law this must be placed in a special blocked bank account.

How much do the most common forms of temporary housing cost in Zürich and Genève?

According to the article, a hotel is the most expensive option, at roughly 3 600–6 000 CHF per month in Zürich and 4 000–6 500 CHF in Genève. A WG is the cheapest, at about 900–1 400 CHF in Zürich and 900–1 500 CHF in Genève, while short-term sublets and serviced apartments fall somewhere in between.

What is the biggest mistake newcomers make?

According to the article, one of the most common mistakes is giving an Airbnb address as a registered address. A verbal agreement, paying a deposit without a blocked account, and booking temporary accommodation for too short a period are also risky.

Temporary housing in Switzerland: what should you know for the first months?

Why is it critical to plan temporary housing in advance?

In Switzerland — especially in Zürich, Genève, Basel and Bern — the housing market is among the tightest in Europe. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office (Bundesamt für Statistik / BFS), in some major cities the vacancy rate remained below 0.5–1% in 2024, which means supply was only a fraction of demand.

To sign a long-term rental contract in Switzerland, you usually need:

a Swiss employment contract or at least a letter of recommendation from your employer,
a valid residence permit (Ausländerausweis),
a Swiss bank account,
a security deposit (Mietkaution) — typically equal to 2–3 months’ rent,
and in many cases Swiss references or a previous rental history in Switzerland.

These conditions are rarely all in place during the first few weeks. Temporary housing is therefore not a luxury, but a necessary buffer zone in the initial settling-in phase.

From a Hungarian perspective, one point deserves special attention: Swiss address registration (Anmeldung) is mandatory in most cantons within 14 days of arrival, and this requires a valid residential address. An Airbnb or hotel address is usually not accepted as a registered address — this is one of the most common traps new arrivals fall into.

What accommodation options are available?

Hotel and aparthotel

The most expensive, but also the easiest option to secure. In Zürich or Genève, a basic three-star hotel room in 2024 starts at around CHF 120–200 per night, which works out to CHF 3,600–6,000 per month — eating up a significant share of most salaries.

Serviced apartments offer a more affordable solution for longer stays: they usually include kitchen access and weekly cleaning, with monthly rates typically ranging from CHF 2,500 to CHF 4,500, depending on the city and size. Their advantage is flexible booking, and they do not require Swiss paperwork.

Airbnb and short-term rental platforms

Airbnb is legal and widely available in Switzerland, especially in the larger cities. A one-bedroom apartment on Airbnb typically costs CHF 2,000–3,500 per month in Zürich, CHF 2,200–4,000 in Genève, and around CHF 1,500–2,500 in smaller cities (e.g. Winterthur, Biel/Bienne).

Important: an Airbnb address is not suitable for address registration (Anmeldung). If your employer or the authorities ask for an address, this solution alone is not enough.

Alternative platforms for short-term rentals:

Wohnungsbörse.ch — Swiss-focused, with short- and long-term listings
Homegate.ch — one of the largest Swiss property portals, with a short-term filter
Comparis.ch — a comparison platform, which also features property listings

Community housing (Wohngemeinschaft / WG)

A WG — in other words, a shared household where tenants share the apartment but each has their own room — is a well-established and widely accepted solution in Switzerland for all age groups, not just young people. Monthly rent for a WG room in 2024:

City	Average monthly rent for a WG room (CHF)
Zürich	900–1 400
Geneva	900–1 500
Basel	800–1 200
Bern	750–1 100
Lucerne	750–1 100
Winterthur	700–1 000

WG listing platforms:

WG-Zimmer.ch — dedicated specifically to WG rooms
Flatfox.ch — a modern, mobile-friendly Swiss platform
Facebook groups — e.g. groups such as “Wohnungssuche Zürich”, “Magyar Svájc”

The advantage of a WG: the price is a fraction of a hotel’s, and in many cases the room tenant takes over an existing tenancy agreement, which means simpler administration. The downside: the possibility of registering your address depends on the main tenant’s consent.

Short-term sublet (Untermiete / sous-location)

Subletting (Untermiete) means that someone temporarily rents out part or all of their own apartment, which they hold under a long-term lease. Under Swiss law, the main tenant needs the landlord’s (owner’s) consent for this, but the owner may refuse only for good cause (Art. 262 OR, Obligationenrecht / Swiss Code of Obligations).

The advantage of a sublet is that it can be suitable for address registration — if both the main tenant and the landlord agree. This is one of the most practical temporary solutions for the first 1–3 months.

How much does temporary housing cost in Switzerland?

The table below summarizes the estimated monthly cost of the most common options in Zürich and Geneva (based on 2024 data, approximate figures):

Accommodation type	Zürich (CHF/month)	Geneva (CHF/month)	Note
Hotel (3*)	3 600–6 000	4,000–6,500	Daily rate × 30
Serviced Apartment	2,500–4,500	2,800–5,000	Kitchen + cleaning
Airbnb (1 room)	2,000–3,500	2,200–4,000	Flexible, but not a registration address
WG room	900–1,400	900–1,500	Cheapest, communal space
Short-term sublet	1,500–2,800	1,600–3,000	Registration address possible

Important:these fees usually include utilities (Nebenkosten), but always check this before booking or signing a contract.

How to look for temporary accommodation? — Practical steps

1. Start your search before arriving in Switzerland

The Swiss housing market moves fast: a good WG room listing can disappear from the platforms within 24–48 hours. It’s worth starting your search as soon as your employment is confirmed, and booking ahead for the first 4–8 weeks.

2. Use the right platforms

Short-term / flexible: Airbnb, Booking.com (apartments), Wohnungsbörse.ch
WG room: WG-Zimmer.ch, Flatfox.ch, Facebook groups
Sublet: Homegate.ch, Comparis.ch, Immoscout24.ch

3. Reach out to the Hungarian community

Active Hungarian communities operate in Zürich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern. The “Magyar Svájc” Facebook group and local Hungarian Cultural Associations regularly post housing offers, and you can also find accommodation through personal recommendations — especially in the first few weeks, this is invaluable.

4. Be ready to decide quickly

In Switzerland, there is often only 24–48 hours between viewing an apartment (Besichtigung) and making a decision. Keep the necessary documents ready: passport, copy of your employment contract, and possibly a reference from a previous landlord.

Contracts, insurance and legal basics in Switzerland

What should a temporary rental contract include?

Even for a short-term rental, insist on a written contract. The contract should include:

the rental period (start and end date),
the monthly rent and how utilities are settled,
the amount of the deposit and the conditions for its refund,
the notice period and termination conditions,
whether address registration is possible (yes/no).

Deposit (Mietkaution)

Even for short-term rentals, a deposit may be requested, typically equal to 1–2 months’ rent. Under Swiss law, the deposit must be placed in a special blocked bank account (Sperrkonto) — the landlord may not keep it in their own account. If the landlord does not follow this rule, that is a red flag.

Household insurance (Hausratversicherung)

In Switzerland, household insurance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. For short-term accommodation, Airbnb offers its own insurance for guests, but for a sublet or WG, it is worth taking out your own policy. A basic package starts at around CHF 100–200 per year.

Address registration (Anmeldung) — the most important administrative step

Under Swiss law, within 14 days of arrival you must register with the local Einwohnerkontrolle / Contrôle des habitants office. You will need:

a valid passport,
an employment contract or another document proving your stay in Switzerland,
a valid Swiss address — this is where Airbnb accommodation can cause problems.

If the temporary accommodation is not suitable for registration, it is worth discussing this with your employer: some Swiss companies help during the first few weeks with temporary company accommodation or an address.

How do you switch from temporary housing to long-term housing?

Temporary accommodation is not the goal, but a tool. To plan the transition, it is worth handling the following in parallel:

Opening a Swiss bank account — most landlords expect this for transferring the deposit. Larger banks (UBS, Credit Suisse’s successor UBS, PostFinance, Raiffeisen) generally open accounts for EU citizens with a valid residence permit.
Applying for a residence permit (Ausländerausweis B or L) — this starts automatically after address registration, but the physical card may take 2–6 weeks to arrive.
Obtaining a Swiss tenant reference — a written reference (Referenzschreiben) from your first Swiss landlord can be very helpful when you start looking for your next apartment.
Starting the long-term apartment search in parallel — do not wait until the temporary accommodation ends. It is worth starting the long-term search in your first week in Switzerland, because the process can take 4–12 weeks.

Important deadline: if your temporary accommodation ends before you find a long-term apartment, you must update your address registration based on the new temporary address. This creates administrative work, but it can be avoided with good advance planning.

Common mistakes and tips

Mistakes worth avoiding:

Using an Airbnb address as your residential address — authorities and employers generally do not accept this.
Relying on a verbal agreement — in Switzerland, every rental agreement must be put in writing.
Handing over the deposit without a blocked bank account — this is unlawful, and getting it back can be difficult.
Booking temporary accommodation for too short a period — the first 4–6 weeks is usually not enough; plan for at least 8–12 weeks.
Skipping the check on whether registration is possible in a WG room — ask the main tenant and the landlord for this in writing in advance.

Proven tips:

Ask for an extension option in the temporary lease agreement (e.g. monthly renewal), so you do not have to rush the long-term solution.
If you can, choose a WG or sublet where the main tenant is Hungarian or another foreigner themselves — they are usually more understanding about administrative processes.
Keep track of your expenses: the real monthly cost of temporary housing (accommodation + meals + transport) in Zürich is realistically CHF 3,000–5,000, which should be taken into account when planning your settling-in budget.

Sources

Swiss Federal Portal (ch.ch): https://www.ch.ch/en/
Renting an apartment in Switzerland — ch.ch guide: https://www.ch.ch/en/housing/rent/
Swiss Federal Statistical Office (Bundesamt für Statistik / BFS): https://www.bfs.admin.ch
Homegate.ch property portal: https://www.homegate.ch
Flatfox.ch property portal: https://www.flatfox.ch
WG-Zimmer.ch shared rooms: https://www.wg-zimmer.ch
Comparis.ch comparison platform: https://www.comparis.ch
Swiss Code of Obligations (Obligationenrecht / OR), Articles 253–274 — rules on subletting: https://www.fedlex.admin.ch