The biggest Swiss household expenses: what you can cut, and when
The three biggest lines in a Swiss household budget are housing and energy (CHF 1'449 a month), taxes and social insurance (taxes alone CHF 1'245) and health insurance (CHF 689), per BFS HABE 2023. Fixed costs mostly move only on set dates: basic health insurance with a cancellation that reaches the insurer by 30 November, contents, liability and car cover usually 3 months before renewal, mobile and internet per contract. The one large expense you change every week is groceries: around CHF 638 a month.
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Before you try to save money in Switzerland, it helps to know where the money actually goes. The Federal Statistical Office (BFS) measures this in its Household Budget Survey (HABE); the latest edition (2023 reporting year, published on 17 November 2025) shows that housing and energy, taxes, social insurance and the basic health-insurance premium together take around 43 percent of gross income. You can only move these on set dates, and some not at all. The one large expense you can change every single week is groceries.
Rappn is an independent grocery price comparison app in Switzerland, with no commercial agreement with any retailer. Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner, Aligro and Otto's do not pay us to rank them, and nothing below is sponsored.
What are the biggest expenses in a Swiss household?
| Expense | Avg per month | Share of gross | Can you cut it short-term? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing and energy | CHF 1,449 | 14.0 % | No (lease and notice periods) |
| Taxes | CHF 1,245 | 12.0 % | No (assessment) |
| Social insurance (AHV, pension) | CHF 1,062 | 10.3 % | No (compulsory) |
| Health insurance (basic) | CHF 689 | 6.7 % | On set dates (mostly 1 January) |
| Groceries at home | ~CHF 638 | 6.2 % | Yes, every week |
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Why are groceries the only weekly lever?
Rent, taxes and social insurance are fixed by contract or by law, and change only at the next deadline at the earliest. Health insurance can be switched on set dates, mostly from 1 January with a cancellation that reaches the insurer by 30 November. People who switched through AXA's switching service in autumn 2025 (around 54,000 of them) pay CHF 426 less in premiums a year on average, per the AXA Wechselreport 2026. But all of that happens on a few fixed dates a year. Groceries, by contrast, you buy again every week, and each week a new promotion cycle decides which chain has which product on promotion. That is what makes food the only large budget line you can influence continuously: through the shop you pick, the day you shop and the own-brand you choose, week after week.
Which fixed costs can you cut, and by when?
| Item | Deadline | Sourced figure | Lever |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic health insurance (KVG/LAMal) | The cancellation must reach the insurer by 30 November (receipt counts), switch from 1 January; with the ordinary CHF 300 deductible in the standard model also from 30 June (cancel by 31 March) | Avg CHF 426 a year across around 54,000 switches through AXA's switching service (AXA Wechselreport 2026) | Once a year |
| Deductible and model (family doctor, HMO, telemedicine) | Higher deductible by 31 December, lower by 30 November, each from 1 January; into a family-doctor, HMO or telemedicine model at any time | CHF 2,500 instead of 300: premium at most around CHF 1,540 a year lower (KVV Art. 95: at most 70 % of the extra CHF 2,200) | Only if you rarely see a doctor |
| Contents and personal liability | Usually 3 months before the contract ends (notice per policy, VVG Art. 35a) | depends on the provider | Per policy |
| Car insurance | Usually 3 months before the contract ends (notice per policy) | depends on the provider | Per policy |
| Mobile and internet | Per contract (minimum term and notice period) | depends on the plan | Per contract |
| Public transport pass (Half Fare, GA) | At renewal, yearly | Half Fare travelcard (Halbtax) CHF 190 in the first year, CHF 5 more for adults from the December 2026 timetable change (Alliance SwissPass); worth it once your full-fare tickets would cost more than twice the pass price a year | Depends on use |
| Electricity | No free choice of supplier | Households using less than 100,000 kWh a year stay in the basic supply (StromVG Art. 6) | Not by switching |
| SERAFE media fee | Mandatory, cannot be cancelled | CHF 335 per household (2026), CHF 312 from 1 January 2027 (serafe.ch) | Fixed |
| Groceries at home | Every week | around CHF 638 a month (BFS HABE 2023) | Every week |
The order that follows from it:
- By 30 November: health insurance. Compare next year's premiums (your insurer must announce them by 31 October) and check the model and deductible in the same step. New to Switzerland? Then the first duty is to insure yourself within 3 months of taking up residence.
- The contracts with 3 months' notice. Compare contents, liability and car cover in good time before the contract ends, then mobile, internet and the transport pass at renewal.
- Every week: groceries. The one large line you decide afresh all the time, through promotions, the unit price per kilo or litre and own-brands.
You settle the yearly decisions once and tick them off; groceries stay your weekly lever.
Which chain has a product on promotion changes all the time: on promotion at one chain one week and another the next. That research is what the Rappn price comparison does for you. For the full breakdown of what an average household spends, see average household expenses. Rappn shows the promotions of 7 chains, updated daily, with the unit price per kilo, litre or piece; your shopping list, loyalty cards and monitored products sit in the same free app.
Updated: .
Why Rappn?
Rappn is an independent grocery price comparison app in Switzerland, with no commercial agreements with any retailer. Our comparisons are truly independent.
- 100% free: no subscription, no hidden costs
- Neutral: no commercial agreements with Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner, Aligro, or Otto’s
- Updated daily, as soon as the chains publish their deals
- The chains’ deals in one place: search, filter, compare, no subscription
- Meal planner in the Kitchen tab: plan the week, send the ingredients to your list
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest expense in a Swiss household?
The single largest consumption item is housing and energy at around CHF 1'449 per month (14.0 percent of gross income, BFS HABE 2023). Counting the obligatory charges together, taxes (CHF 1'245) and social insurance are even bigger: mandatory expenses make up 30.5 percent of gross income.
How much does a Swiss household spend on groceries?
Around CHF 638 per month on food and non-alcoholic drinks bought for home (BFS HABE 2023, 6.2 percent of gross income). Including eating out (restaurants and take-away), the figure rises noticeably further.
Why can I only save on groceries every week?
Rent, taxes and social insurance contributions are fixed and change only at the next notice or assessment date; health insurance only on set dates, mostly from 1 January. Groceries, by contrast, you buy weekly, and the promotions rotate constantly, so it is the only large line you can influence continuously.
How much can I realistically save on groceries?
There is no honest flat figure: an average spend does not give your household a fixed percentage. What lands in your budget depends on which items you replace, whether you buy them in a promotion week and whether you compare the unit price per kilo or litre.
By when do I have to cancel my health insurance?
The cancellation of basic insurance must reach the insurer by 30 November (receipt counts, not the postmark); the switch applies from 1 January. If 30 November falls on a weekend, the last working day before it counts. Your insurer must announce the new premiums by 31 October. With the ordinary CHF 300 deductible in the standard model you can also switch from 30 June, cancelling by 31 March. Unpaid premiums for which a reminder was sent by 30 November and that are still open on 31 December block the switch. Supplementary insurance follows the notice periods in its own contract.
Is a higher deductible worth it?
With the highest deductible (CHF 2'500 instead of CHF 300) the annual premium drops by at most around CHF 1'540; that is the legal cap, 70 percent of the extra CHF 2'200 (KVV Art. 95). In return you pay the first CHF 2'500 of costs yourself if you fall ill, then a 10 percent co-payment (Selbstbehalt) up to CHF 700 a year. If you rarely see a doctor and hold reserves, it usually works out cheaper; with ongoing treatment the low deductible is safer. You can choose a higher deductible for the new year until 31 December.
I am new to Switzerland: what do I decide first?
Basic health insurance first: you must insure yourself within 3 months of taking up residence, and cover then applies back to that day. If you sign up later, you are covered only from the day you join and pay a premium surcharge if the delay is not excusable (KVG Art. 5). Then the transport pass: a Half Fare travelcard (Halbtax) costs CHF 190 in the first year (CHF 5 more for adults from the December 2026 timetable change) and halves the price of most tickets; it pays off once you would otherwise spend more than twice its price a year on full-fare tickets. After that, groceries remain the line you decide afresh every week.