How much money do you need in retirement in Switzerland? The monthly budget, from AHV to groceries

In retirement the budget depends on your pension fund, your housing and your canton. A full AHV pension (old-age and survivors’ insurance, AVS in French and Italian) ranges from CHF 1'260 to 2'520 a month in 2026 and from CHF 1'280 to 2'560 as of 1 January 2027 (ahv-iv.ch, BSV). If that is not enough, supplementary benefits exist.

Updated October 2026. Sources: ahv-iv.ch (leaflet 3.01, status 1 January 2026; leaflet 5.01 in German, status 1 January 2025; 13th AHV pension in German); Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV), in German: press release of 2 October 2026, “In Rente gehen”; Federal Statistical Office (FSO): table T20.02.01.00.13 in German (viewed on 21 October 2026).

How much money do you need in retirement in Switzerland?

There is no single figure. Start from three blocks: net income (AHV pension, pension fund, possibly supplementary benefits), fixed costs (housing, health insurance, taxes, Serafe fee) and everyday spending; from December 2026 the 13th AHV pension is added. Compare income and costs month by month: if the numbers do not add up, check whether you are entitled to supplementary benefits. The method is in the guide on how to make a budget, the list of items under fixed costs. This is general information, not personal advice.

Income: AHV, pension fund and supplementary benefits

With gaps in contributions the AHV pension is partial, so lower. The Federal Social Insurance Office recommends applying three or four months before retirement.

To take capital from the pension fund instead of a pension, you must request it within the fund’s deadline, and the choice cannot be changed afterwards; the expected pension is on the pension statement the fund sends every year.

What does the month cost?

People aged 65 or over living alone; couples without children where the oldest person is at least 65. Sample averages, owners and tenants together, not a target; 2020-2021 was shaped by Covid. Guideline values for groceries: grocery budget for seniors.

• Health insurance. Premiums can be compared every year (switching health insurance); premium reduction is cantonal (premium reduction).
• Taxes. Pensions and capital payments are taxed (BSV); the amount depends on canton and commune (saving for taxes).
• Serafe fee. CHF 335 in 2026, CHF 312 from 1 January 2027 (Serafe AG, OFCOM). With annual federal EL on top of AHV/IV pensions: exempt on request, for the whole household. If you receive EL, sending Serafe AG a copy of the valid EL confirmation counts as your application (Serafe fee).

The 13th AHV pension

The 13th AHV pension, accepted in a popular vote on 3 March 2024, is paid for the first time in December 2026: one twelfth of the old-age pensions paid in the year, rounded to the franc (ahv-iv.ch).

• You get it without an application, together with the December pension, if you are entitled to an old-age pension in December; survivors’, disability and children’s pensions stay at 12 payments a year.
• The exact amount is known only in December (ahv-iv.ch gives the month, not the day). It does not reduce or cancel EL.

When the pension is not enough

EL are a right and the cantons grant them when pensions and income do not cover living needs. For people living at home, the annual EL is the part of the recognised expenses (living needs, rent, health insurance premium) that exceeds the countable income (ahv-iv.ch).

1. Check the conditions. As a rule you need an AHV pension (also if drawn early), domicile and actual residence in Switzerland, and assets of at most CHF 100'000 (single person) or 200'000 (married couple), not counting your own home; citizenship or years of residence also count (status 1 January 2025).
2. Apply to your canton’s EL office, usually at the cantonal compensation fund; as a rule you hand in the application at the AHV branch office of your municipality. The entitlement starts, in principle, in the month of the application.
3. Estimate with the calculator on the AHV/IV website, before or during the application.

How to keep the month under control from today

Write down the month’s net income and fixed costs. To clarify your rights and your figures, Pro Senectute (website in German, French and Italian) offers free and confidential counselling on finances, including supplementary benefits (Infoline 058 591 15 15).

Rappn, a free Swiss app (iOS and Android) that compares the current promotions of seven Swiss retailers and turns receipts into a spending overview, helps only with groceries: the list shows an estimated price; add receipts, by photo or by hand, and you see your spending by category and by month next to your own monthly average. Rappn does not cover pensions, supplementary benefits, rent, health insurance or taxes. Rappn is building an AI assistant for groceries: you can join the waitlist.