What are rents like in Zurich right now? (2026)

If you're thinking about renting out a property in Zurich, you need to know what the market actually looks like right now.

This article breaks down current rent levels, tenant preferences, and neighborhood dynamics across Zurich.

We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest data.

And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Zurich.

Who is the author of this content?

INVESTROPA

A team specialized in real estate investing in European countries

We are a team of financial experts, legal professionals, developers, and local real estate specialists dedicated to helping people like you avoid mistakes when investing in real estate in a foreign place, particularly in Zurich. If you’d like to learn more about us, you can check our presentation page.

What are typical rents in Zurich as of 2026?

What's the average monthly rent for a studio in Zurich as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the average monthly rent for a studio in Zurich is around CHF 2,100 (USD 2,300 / EUR 2,200), excluding utilities.

Studio rents vary widely, ranging from CHF 1,800 to CHF 2,600 (USD 2,000 to USD 2,850 / EUR 1,900 to EUR 2,700) depending on location.

The main factors driving this spread are neighborhood (central and lake-side areas cost more), building age, renovations, and proximity to major transit hubs like Zurich HB.

What's the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom in Zurich as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom (called "2-room" in Swiss terms) in Zurich is around CHF 2,900 (USD 3,200 / EUR 3,050).

Most 1-bedrooms range from CHF 2,400 to CHF 3,700 (USD 2,650 to USD 4,050 / EUR 2,500 to EUR 3,900), varying by neighborhood and quality.

Outer districts like Affoltern (Kreis 11) and Albisrieden (Kreis 9) have the cheapest 1-bedroom rents, while Seefeld (Kreis 8) and Enge (Kreis 2) command the highest.

What's the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom in Zurich as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom ("3-room") in Zurich is around CHF 3,600 (USD 3,950 / EUR 3,800).

Most 2-bedrooms fall within CHF 3,000 to CHF 4,800 (USD 3,300 to USD 5,250 / EUR 3,150 to EUR 5,050), depending on building age and location.

The most affordable 2-bedroom rents are in Schwamendingen (Kreis 12) and Altstetten (Kreis 9), while the priciest are in Kreis 1 (Altstadt) and Kreis 8 (Seefeld).

By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Zurich.

What's the average rent per square meter in Zurich as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the average rent per square meter in Zurich is around CHF 23/month (USD 25 / EUR 24) for typical 2 to 4 room apartments.

Across neighborhoods, rents range from CHF 18 to CHF 35/m² (USD 20 to USD 38 / EUR 19 to EUR 37), with outer districts at the lower end and lake-side locations at the top.

Zurich's rent per square meter is among Switzerland's highest, roughly 15% to 20% above Geneva and significantly higher than Basel or Bern.

Properties that push rent above average typically feature recent renovations, balconies, modern kitchens, energy-efficient systems, and direct transit access.

How much have rents changed year-over-year in Zurich in 2026?

As of early 2026, asking rents in Zurich have increased by approximately 3% compared to last year.

The main drivers are the extremely tight vacancy rate (0.1%), strong demand from professionals and expats, and limited new construction.

This year's increase is slower than the 6% to 9% jump between 2022 and 2024, suggesting the market is stabilizing at a high level.

What's the outlook for rent growth in Zurich in 2026?

As of early 2026, we project rent growth in Zurich between 1% and 3%, with upside concentrated in central, well-connected neighborhoods.

Key factors include continued low vacancy, strong employment in finance and tech, ongoing immigration, and limited new housing supply.

Neighborhoods expected to see strongest growth are Oerlikon (Kreis 11), Zürich West (Kreis 5), and central districts around Hauptbahnhof.

Risks that could shift projections include interest rate changes, immigration policy shifts, or significant increases in construction permits.

We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Switzerland. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.

Which neighborhoods rent best in Zurich as of 2026?

Which neighborhoods have the highest rents in Zurich as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the three neighborhoods with highest rents in Zurich are Kreis 1 (Altstadt) at CHF 30 to 35/m², Kreis 8 (Seefeld) at CHF 28 to 33/m², and Kreis 2 (Enge) at CHF 26 to 30/m².

These neighborhoods command premiums because of lake proximity, historic architecture, excellent walkability, and concentration of high-end amenities.

Tenants in these areas are typically senior executives, wealthy expats, and finance professionals who prioritize location over space.

By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current best areas to invest in property in Zurich.

Where do young professionals prefer to rent in Zurich right now?

The top neighborhoods for young professionals in Zurich are Kreis 4 (Langstrasse), Kreis 5 (Zürich West), and Kreis 3 (Wiedikon), all offering urban energy and good transit.

Young professionals typically pay CHF 2,200 to CHF 3,500/month (USD 2,400 to USD 3,850 / EUR 2,300 to EUR 3,700) for a 1 to 2 bedroom.

What attracts them is vibrant nightlife, co-working spaces, trendy restaurants, bike-friendly streets, and quick commutes to the city center.

By the way, you will find a detailed tenant analysis in our property pack covering the real estate market in Zurich.

Where do families prefer to rent in Zurich right now?

Top family neighborhoods in Zurich are Höngg (Kreis 10), Witikon (Kreis 7), and Wollishofen (Kreis 2), offering more space and quieter streets.

Families renting 2 to 3 bedrooms typically pay CHF 3,200 to CHF 4,500/month (USD 3,500 to USD 4,950 / EUR 3,400 to EUR 4,750).

These areas attract families with larger apartments, parks, lower noise levels, and community feel while maintaining good transit links.

Top schools nearby include public primary schools in each Kreis, international schools like Zurich International School, and highly regarded Gymnasium options.

Which areas near transit or universities rent faster in Zurich in 2026?

As of early 2026, fastest-renting areas are the Hauptbahnhof vicinity (Kreis 1/4/5), Oerlikon station (Kreis 11), and ETH/UZH zone (Kreis 1/6).

Properties here stay listed just 10 to 14 days, versus the citywide average of 16 to 18 days.

The rent premium for walking distance to transit or universities is about CHF 150 to CHF 400/month (USD 165 to USD 440 / EUR 160 to EUR 420).

Which neighborhoods are most popular with expats in Zurich right now?

Top expat neighborhoods in Zurich are Seefeld (Kreis 8), Enge (Kreis 2), and Oerlikon (Kreis 11), each offering different appeals from lake lifestyle to modern convenience.

Expats typically pay CHF 3,000 to CHF 5,500/month (USD 3,300 to USD 6,050 / EUR 3,150 to EUR 5,800) depending on size and location.

These areas attract expats with English-friendly services, international grocery stores, easy airport access, and established expat networks.

The most represented communities are Germans, British, Americans, Indians in tech and finance, and French professionals.

And if you are also an expat, you may want to read our exhaustive guide for expats in Zurich.

Who rents, and what do tenants want in Zurich right now?

What tenant profiles dominate rentals in Zurich?

The three dominant tenant profiles in Zurich are singles and couples (around 45%), young professionals in finance, tech, and services (about 30%), and international arrivals (roughly 25%).

These categories overlap, but together they account for the vast majority of Zurich rental demand.

Singles and couples seek studios and 2-room apartments, young professionals want modern 2 to 3 room units near transit, and internationals prioritize furnished options or flexible leases.

If you want to optimize your cashflow, you can read our complete guide on how to buy and rent out in Zurich.

Do tenants prefer furnished or unfurnished in Zurich?

In Zurich, roughly 80% to 85% of tenants rent unfurnished (the Swiss standard), while 15% to 20% seek furnished units.

Furnished apartments command a premium of CHF 400 to CHF 800/month (USD 440 to USD 880 / EUR 420 to EUR 840), roughly 15% to 25% more.

Those preferring furnished rentals are newly arrived expats, project-based consultants, university researchers, and anyone needing quick move-in solutions.

Which amenities increase rent the most in Zurich?

Top five rent-boosting amenities in Zurich are in-unit laundry, balcony/terrace, elevator, modern energy-efficient heating, and proximity to tram/S-Bahn.

In-unit laundry adds CHF 100 to 200/month, a balcony adds CHF 150 to 300, an elevator adds CHF 50 to 150, and excellent transit proximity adds CHF 100 to 250.

In our property pack covering the real estate market in Zurich, we cover what are the best investments a landlord can make.

What renovations get the best ROI for rentals in Zurich?

Top five ROI renovations in Zurich are kitchen modernization, bathroom updates, sound insulation, new windows, and fresh flooring.

A kitchen refresh costs CHF 15,000 to 30,000 and adds CHF 150 to 300/month; bathroom updates cost CHF 10,000 to 25,000 and add CHF 100 to 200; sound insulation costs CHF 5,000 to 15,000 and adds CHF 50 to 150.

Poor ROI renovations to avoid include luxury finishes exceeding neighborhood standards, overly personalized designs, and complex smart home systems tenants may not value.

We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Switzerland versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.

How strong is rental demand in Zurich as of 2026?

What's the vacancy rate for rentals in Zurich as of 2026?

As of early 2026, Zurich's rental vacancy rate is approximately 0.1%, translating to only about 235 empty apartments citywide.

Vacancy ranges from essentially 0% in high-demand areas like Kreis 1 and Kreis 8 to perhaps 0.2% to 0.3% in outer districts like Kreis 11 or Kreis 12.

This is far below the Swiss "balanced market" benchmark of 1% to 1.5% and well below the national average of 1.0% in 2025.

Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Zurich.

How many days do rentals stay listed in Zurich as of 2026?

As of early 2026, average rental listings in Zurich stay on market about 16 to 18 days.

Days on market vary from 7 to 10 days for well-priced units near transit, up to 25 to 30 days for overpriced or less connected properties.

Compared to last year, listings stay slightly longer (1 to 2 days more), suggesting marginal easing, though the market remains very tight.

Which months have peak tenant demand in Zurich?

Peak months for tenant demand in Zurich are March through May (spring) and August through October (semester and job starts).

Drivers include the academic calendar at ETH and UZH, Swiss employment start dates, and preference to move during milder weather.

Lowest demand months are December through February, when holidays, cold weather, and quarterly notice periods reduce turnover.

What will my monthly costs be in Zurich as of 2026?

What property taxes should landlords expect in Zurich as of 2026?

As of early 2026, Zurich landlords don't pay a separate annual property tax; property is taxed through income tax on rental earnings and wealth tax on property value.

The effective annual tax burden varies by income, wealth, and municipal multiplier, but wealth tax alone on a CHF 1 million property might be CHF 2,000 to 4,000 (USD 2,200 to 4,400).

Property taxation works by adding the property's tax value to your wealth for cantonal/municipal wealth tax, while rental income (minus deductions) is taxed at your marginal rate.

Please note that, in our property pack covering the real estate market in Zurich, we cover what exemptions or deductions may be available to reduce property taxes for landlords.

What maintenance budget per year is realistic in Zurich right now?

A realistic annual maintenance budget in Zurich is CHF 2,500 to 5,000 (USD 2,750 to 5,500 / EUR 2,650 to 5,250) for mid-sized apartments, following the 0.5% to 1.0% of building value rule.

Costs range from CHF 1,500/year for newer buildings to CHF 8,000+ for older properties with aging systems.

Most Zurich landlords set aside 5% to 10% of annual rental income for maintenance and unexpected repairs.

What utilities do landlords often pay in Zurich right now?

In Zurich, landlords typically manage building-level costs (common area electricity, garbage, insurance) while tenants pay most utilities through "Nebenkosten" advances.

Landlord-managed costs passed to tenants typically total CHF 250 to 400/month (USD 275 to 440 / EUR 265 to 420) for a mid-sized apartment.

The common practice is tenants pay fixed monthly Nebenkosten advances (settled annually), while landlords handle and pass through building maintenance fees.

How is rental income taxed in Zurich as of 2026?

As of early 2026, rental income in Zurich is taxed as ordinary income combining federal (up to 11.5%), cantonal (8% to 13%), and municipal rates.

Main deductions include maintenance costs (actual or flat-rate), property management fees, building insurance, mortgage interest, and depreciation on improvements.

Common mistakes to avoid: failing to track deductible expenses, missing the actual vs. flat-rate deduction choice, and not accounting for property tax value changes from 2026.

We cover these mistakes, among others, in our list of risks and pitfalls people face when buying property in Zurich.

We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Switzerland compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.

What sources have we used to write this blog article?

Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Zurich, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can, and we don't throw out numbers at random.

We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used and explained how we used them.

Source	Why it's authoritative	How we used it
Statistik Stadt Zürich - Mietpreise 2024	City of Zurich's official statistics office publishing a representative rent survey.	We anchored Zurich rent levels per square meter and identified which districts are most/least expensive.
Statistik Stadt Zürich - Mietpreiserhebung 2024 (PDF)	Underlying city publication with full methodology details.	We corroborated methodology and stayed consistent with room-size categories.
OpenData.swiss - Zurich rent dataset	Switzerland's official open-data portal with public authority datasets.	We verified the rent survey is backed by auditable data with district breakdowns.
Stadt Zürich - Vacancy release (June 2025)	City of Zurich's official vacancy census communication.	We pinned the 0.1% vacancy rate and 235 empty units as our market tightness anchor.
Stadt Zürich - Leerwohnungen (methodology)	Documents the city's vacancy census methodology and legal basis.	We explained what vacancy numbers include and why they're comparable over time.
BFS/FSO - Leerwohnungen (national)	Switzerland's federal statistical office, top-tier source for national housing stats.	We benchmarked Zurich against Switzerland-wide vacancy to show relative tightness.
BFS/FSO - Vacancy 2025 release	Direct BFS publication with national 2025 vacancy results.	We cited the national vacancy rate (1.0%) to contrast with Zurich's tighter market.
Kanton Zürich - Wohnungsmieten	Canton of Zurich's official housing statistics portal.	We grounded renter share data and cross-checked rent patterns against BFS surveys.
Homegate Mietindex (with ZKB)	Transparent, quality-adjusted asking-rent index built with Zürcher Kantonalbank.	We tracked asking-rent changes and translated older survey data to January 2026 market view.
SVIT Schweiz - OWI portal	Major Swiss real-estate industry body publishing recurring index work.	We located official OWI reports and methodology for listing dynamics analysis.
SVIT / OWI report (PDF)	Primary PDF report widely cited in Swiss housing coverage.	We estimated how long Zurich rentals stay listed and assessed market tightness.
BWO - Wohnungsmarkt auf einen Blick	Swiss federal housing office's regular market monitoring.	We added demand/supply context as a neutral public-sector check against private indexes.
Kanton Zürich - Grundstückgewinnsteuer	Official canton guidance on property gains taxation.	We clarified what taxes apply when selling and avoided common property tax misconceptions.
ch.ch - real estate taxation	Official Swiss government information portal.	We explained which tax categories apply to property in simple, verifiable terms.
Kanton Zürich - new property valuations (2026)	Official canton statement on valuation rule changes.	We flagged that tax values shift from 2026, important for long-term cost planning.
Kanton Zürich (ZStB) - deductions guidance	Zurich tax authority's rulebook on landlord deductions.	We explained how rental income is taxed and what costs are deductible.
HEV Kanton Zürich	Main Swiss homeowners' association, major institutional reference.	We clarified that Zurich doesn't levy separate annual property tax, cross-checked with government sources.
SRF - Swiss rental market coverage	Switzerland's main public broadcaster with independent reporting.	We cross-referenced media coverage of OWI results to validate our listing duration interpretation.