How to buy a house in Switzerland on a budget in 2025

Switzerland is known for its high cost of living, and this is especially true when it comes to real estate.

A detached house in Zurich will cost you an average of 1.8 million CHF – that’s about 1.7 million EUR. In Geneva, it’s slightly more affordable, but you’ll still need around 1.6 million CHF. Over in Lausanne, you can expect to spend around 1.4 million CHF, which is a bit lower but still quite high.

Ski resorts aren’t exactly known for bargains either. A two-bedroom apartment in a chalet in Grindelwald can easily reach 1.1 million CHF. By comparison, a five-bedroom chalet priced at 2 million CHF seems almost reasonable.

It’s no surprise that nearly two-thirds of Swiss residents prefer to rent rather than buy!

But don’t lose hope – there are still more affordable properties out there. You may need to expand your search, make some compromises, and look into less popular areas. One great tip is to explore the cantons near the French border in the Swiss Romande region: Valais, Neuchâtel, and Jura are some of the most affordable areas in the country.

For example, the cheapest municipality in Switzerland is Raron, located in the canton of Valais. There, properties sell for about 3,000 CHF per square meter, compared to 12,500 CHF in Zurich. Of course, the 2.5-hour commute to Zurich can be an issue if you need to travel frequently.

However, if you're currently renting in Switzerland, your rent is likely quite high. Run the numbers on your monthly payments and local taxes – you might be pleasantly surprised. With interest rates still relatively low, buying could be more affordable than you think.

Foreigners can't buy property everywhere in Switzerland – they are actually limited to specific areas, like ski resorts. If your budget is tight, forget about the most prestigious resorts – for example, Verbier is probably out of reach.

You can stretch your budget by:

• looking at properties a bit farther from the main ski lifts;
• considering smaller properties, like studios;
• focusing on resale properties, which can be up to 20% cheaper than new builds;
• checking out eco-friendly developments or projects outside high-demand areas;
• exploring nearby villages instead of the main tourist resorts.

In many popular resorts, new developments aren’t available to foreign buyers, so you’ll mainly be looking at resales.

Sometimes, you can buy in a nearby village for much less than in a well-known resort while still having access to the same slopes. For example, a property in Grimentz costs about 50% less than a similar one in the 4 Vallées area. Plus, a cable car now links Grimentz to Zinal, doubling the number of slopes available. It’s always worth talking to local agents to explore your options – you won’t necessarily find this information in luxury property magazines.

Resorts like Nendaz and Ovronnaz are known for offering much more affordable prices. For example, even small apartments in the center often sell for under 300,000 CHF.

Another great option is Crans-Montana, where brand new studios just 500 meters from the ski lifts start at 282,000 CHF. If the word "studio" doesn’t excite you, keep in mind that these are quite spacious, around 51 square meters. For comparison, a typical one-bedroom apartment in Paris is only 32 square meters! So, sometimes it's better to go for a large studio than a tiny one.

If you're a Swiss citizen or resident (EU/EFTA citizen with a B or C permit, or someone from another country with a C permit), you can buy property anywhere in Switzerland. However, the prices won’t be any lower – they remain high no matter where you look.

That said, in the Swiss Romande region, you can find some good opportunities. For example, why not consider buying a new apartment in Sion, a charming city and the capital of the canton of Valais, perfect if you enjoy urban life?

If you prefer the countryside, it's even possible to find homes within your budget of around 300,000 CHF. In Boncourt, right on the French border, you can buy one of the new eco-friendly villas with 101 square meters of space. Boncourt is closer to French towns like Montbéliard and Belfort than Zurich (2.5 hours by train, but only 1 hour from Basel).

Another interesting option is to build your own eco-friendly wooden house, between 48 and 75 square meters, with a nice garden, in Ayent.

It’s also possible to find a fixer-upper, but you might need local contacts to be alerted when a good deal pops up. Renovating can be a great option because even if you need to spend money on the work, you can finance it over time instead of paying everything upfront. Just make sure to get the renovation costs evaluated by a builder and plan for some wiggle room in your budget. Start by tackling the most urgent needs like the roof or electrical work, and leave things like a new kitchen or décor for later.

You can even consider something a bit more unconventional. I found a beautiful traditional stone house in Ticino for 290,000 CHF!

Why "unconventional"? Well, there's no road access. To reach it, you’ll need to use a small cable car to transport your furniture and construction materials. On top of that, there’s no running water – you’ll get your water straight from a natural spring. It’s not for everyone, but if that suits you, it’s quite the bargain.

So yes, it's possible to buy property in Switzerland with a 300,000 CHF budget.

It’s not easy, and you might need to compromise on the location or be okay with living far from big cities. But it’s doable – and it’s a lot easier if you use a good platform like Properstar to help with your search.