Asking rents across Switzerland are rising, but cantonal rent levels paint a mixed picture

While asking rents across Switzerland are rising slightly and continuously, their development varies across cantons. The changes are not progressing at the same rate in each canton, but rather differ locally in June. This also applies to the cities surveyed, where the fluctuation range last month exceeded plus or minus one per cent. This is shown by the latest figures from the Homegate Rent Index.

The Homegate Rent Index for asking rents is compiled by the property marketplace Homegate in collaboration with Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB). It measures the monthly, quality-adjusted change in rental prices for new and re-let flats based on current market offers. Compared to the previous month, the index increased by 0,3 points in June and now stands at 134 points (up 0,2%). Compared to the previous year, asking rents have risen by 2,5% across Switzerland.

Changes across the cantons
Broken down by individual cantons, the changes for many are in line with the national average. The most significant fluctuations compared with the previous month are seen above all in the canton of Schwyz (up 2,3%), where asking rents have generally shown strong growth in recent months. Whilst a new all-time high was reached there in June 2026, the index value was already almost as high in October last year, before a temporary decline set in. Compared with June last year, the largest increases are seen particularly in Nidwalden (up 8,3%) and Graubünden (up 6,7%), both of which are recovering from recent declines. However, Zurich (up 3,3%) and Geneva (up 5,3%) are also above the national average, while this is not the case in Bern (up 1,5%).

Change in the cities
Among the cities surveyed, Lucerne stands out in particular for June, with asking rents rising the most both compared with the previous month (up 1%) and the previous year (up 6%). In general, advertised rents have risen year-on-year in all cities. The fact that they fell in June, primarily in Lugano (down 1,1%), can be attributed to a temporary peak in the previous month.

Method of quality adjustment
The development of asking rents in Switzerland is adjusted for the different quality, location and size of the flats. The advantage of this so-called hedonic method is that the real rental price development for new and re-let flats is reflected on Homegate. The Homegate Rent Index is the oldest quality-adjusted rent index in Switzerland and is considered a reference source for real estate professionals to determine the price of rental properties.