How much money should you save per month? Guidelines for Switzerland
There is no official savings amount. The 50-30-20 rule of thumb puts it at 20 percent of net income; Budgetberatung Schweiz recommends an emergency fund of 3 to 6 months' income rather than a fixed rate. In reality the average household sets aside around CHF 1'736 per month per BFS HABE 2023 (16.8 %), just under 20 percent. The fastest lever to save: groceries, around CHF 632/month.
Updated regularly. There is no legally prescribed savings amount in Switzerland. The most-cited rule of thumb is the 50-30-20 rule: 50 percent of net pay for needs, 30 percent for wants, 20 percent for saving. That is a guideline, not a law, and in expensive Switzerland 50 percent for needs is often too tight. More important than a fixed percentage is keeping a dedicated savings line at all.
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How much should you save per month?
As a guideline, the 50-30-20 rule of thumb puts 20 percent of net income toward saving and investing. Budgetberatung Schweiz deliberately prescribes no fixed savings rate, but recommends two things: an emergency fund of three to six months' income and a fixed monthly amount set aside, treated like a bill (save first, not whatever is left at month-end). The reality check comes from BFS: the average household sets aside around CHF 1'736 per month, according to the 2023 Household Budget Survey, which is 16.8 percent of gross income, just under the 20 percent rule of thumb.
| Guideline | Recommendation | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 50-30-20 rule (savings share) | 20 % of net income | International rule of thumb |
| Emergency fund | 3 to 6 months' income | Budgetberatung Schweiz |
| Fixed savings rate prescribed? | No, but keep a dedicated line | Budgetberatung Schweiz |
| Real avg savings amount | CHF 1'736/month (16.8 %) | BFS HABE 2023 |
How do I hit the savings rate realistically?
Not everyone can save 20 percent: households in the lowest income bracket often spend more than they earn, per BFS. If you want to raise the rate, look at the big items first. But housing, taxes and social insurance are fixed in the short term; health insurance can only be switched once a year. The fastest lever is therefore the one large expense you can change every week: groceries, around CHF 632 per month. Saving ten to twenty percent here through own-brands, discounters and well-timed promotions moves money straight into the savings line every month, without giving anything up.
In the Rappn app you scan your receipts and see your real grocery spend, instead of guessing, and through the price comparison you lower it week by week. That turns the intention to save into a fixed amount. For what a household spends overall, see average household expenses, and for cutting fixed costs once a year, the fixed-cost switching calendar.
Sources checked: .
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much money should you save per month?
There is no official figure. The 50-30-20 rule of thumb puts 20 percent of net income toward saving. Budgetberatung Schweiz recommends, instead of a fixed rate, an emergency fund of three to six months' income and a dedicated savings line in the budget. In reality the average household sets aside CHF 1'736 per month (16.8 percent), per BFS.
What is the 50-30-20 rule?
An international rule of thumb: 50 percent of net pay for needs (housing, food, insurance), 30 percent for wants and 20 percent for saving and investing. It is a guideline, not an official Swiss standard, and in expensive Switzerland the 50 percent for needs is often too tight.
How much does an average Swiss household save?
Per the BFS Household Budget Survey 2023, around CHF 1'736 per month, or 16.8 percent of gross income, just under the 20 percent rule of thumb. The average hides large differences, though: low-income households often save negatively.
How do I raise my savings rate fastest?
Through the variable line. Housing, taxes and social insurance are fixed short-term, and health insurance is switchable only yearly. Groceries (around CHF 632/month), by contrast, you buy every week, and a ten to twenty percent saving there lands straight in the savings line.