Argyo AppsHow to make a budget in Switzerland
Updated: 2026-09-21 · By Nada and Andrei Argyo. They build SwissBudget+ in Lucerne and use a budget themselves.
A household budget rarely fails because of the maths. It falls short when annual bills arrive that no one thought about in January. This guide covers a simple structure, categories and monthly set-asides. You can use it on paper, in a spreadsheet or in an app.
What makes a Swiss budget different
People moving to Switzerland often underestimate the same three costs. You pay health insurance yourself for each person; it is not deducted from your salary. Most employees also receive a separate tax bill, often in instalments and sometimes a year later. Each household also pays the Serafe fee.
Together, these three costs can be your largest expense after rent. A budget that leaves them out may look fine for eleven months and fail in the twelfth.
A template with five parts
Five parts are enough. Put each item you track into one of these groups:
- Income — take-home pay, extra income, family allowances and maintenance payments.
- Fixed costs — rent, utilities, health insurance, subscriptions, insurance and public transport.
- Set-asides — annual or irregular bills divided by twelve.
- Variable costs — groceries, meals out, clothes, leisure and haircuts.
- Savings — build an emergency fund first, then save for goals such as travel, a car or a home.
Convert every cost to a monthly amount. A 1,200-franc annual bill is not a March surprise; it is 100 francs each month throughout the year.
Costs people often forget
Most people know their fixed costs. These items are missing from many first budgets:
- Cantonal and municipal taxes, separate from federal income tax
- The health insurance deductible and co-payment, not just the premium
- Dental care and glasses, which basic insurance does not cover
- Serafe household fee
- Utility and heating adjustments billed later
- Household contents and personal liability insurance
- A Half Fare Travelcard, GA Travelcard or municipal annual pass
- Your share of damage costs, repairs and replacing appliances
- Gifts and invitations
Budgetberatung Schweiz publishes guidance figures for different household sizes. Use them for comparison, not as a rule: rent and health insurance vary more between Geneva and Appenzell than any average can show.
Set-asides: the part that keeps a budget on track
A set-aside is money you keep this month for a bill due later. Estimate each irregular yearly cost, divide by twelve and treat that monthly amount like a fixed cost.
For taxes, use a separate account or at least a separate budget line. Paying a tax bill from this month’s income only moves the problem to another month.
Your 13th salary is not just for December
A 13th salary is part of your yearly pay, paid later, rather than a bonus. You can leave it out of your monthly budget and use it for taxes and set-asides in December, or spread it across twelve months on paper. Either works. Treating it as extra money in December can leave you short when a tax bill arrives in February.
Budgets for different situations
Living alone. Fixed costs take a larger share because you do not split rent or health insurance. An emergency fund is more important than other savings goals.
Couple. Agree which costs you share and which you keep separate. A joint account for fixed costs and set-asides, with the rest separate, can prevent many disagreements.
Family with children. Include childcare, health insurance for each child and family allowances from the start. When school begins, costs shift from childcare to activities, camps and supplies.
Studying. Irregular income is the main challenge. Build your budget around your lowest-income month, not the average.
First apartment. Along with rent, plan for the deposit, utilities, contents and liability insurance, Serafe and furnishings. Keep one-time costs separate from your ongoing budget.
Paper, a spreadsheet or an app?
Paper and spreadsheets work if you update them each month. A simple Swiss budget spreadsheet is easy to set up: five rows for the groups above, twelve monthly columns and a total row.
An app can carry set-asides forward and lets you record a purchase in the shop instead of reconstructing it from receipts later. Some apps require an account, cloud storage, bank access or ads.
Common questions
How much should I save? Save an amount you can maintain for twelve months. If you need to dip into it in month three, the amount was too high.
Do I need a bank connection? No. It can save typing, but gives the app access to your account data. You can manage a budget without it.
How long does it take to get a budget right? About three months. The first two help you gather information; by the third, the figures should be close.
If you would rather not manage it by hand
SwissBudget+ is made for this kind of budget: categories and set-asides, a tax estimate by canton and municipality, and savings goals. No account, cloud, ads or bank connection. Your figures stay on your phone, and the app is free.