Argyo AppsFamily budget in Switzerland
Updated: 2026-09-24 · By Nada and Andrei Argyo. They build SwissBudget+ in Lucerne and use a budget themselves.
Children add new budget items that change over time: childcare first, then school, hobbies and clothes they quickly outgrow. This guide shows what to include and how to plan for it month by month.
New costs when you have children
The main new costs are much the same for families across Switzerland:
- Health insurance for each child. Each child has their own policy. Premiums are lower than for adults, but you pay them every month for each child.
- Childcare. For many families, daycare, family daycare or after-school care is the largest cost after rent. Fees often depend on income and municipality.
- Food and clothes. These costs grow with your children. What works for a toddler will not fit a school-age child.
- School and free time. Supplies, outings, camps, music lessons and sports clubs. Each may be modest, but together they add up.
Give each child a separate line in your budget. You can see the cost per child and add another line as your family grows.
New income to include
The family allowance (for children and later for education) is usually paid with your salary. The canton sets the amount and the federal government sets a minimum. List it as a separate income so you notice when it ends, for example when a child completes their education.
Many families may also qualify for premium reduction on health insurance. Eligibility depends on your income and canton. Check each year, as it is easy to miss the application deadline.
Taxes: child deductions
Children can lower your tax bill. The federal government and canton grant a child deduction, plus deductions for childcare in some cantons. This lowers your taxes, but does not remove them. Keep setting money aside each month, adjusting the amount down.
Keep the timing in mind: the tax bill often arrives a year later. If your family grows or a parent reduces their work hours, recalculate your monthly set-aside then, rather than waiting for the bill.
Set-asides families often overlook
Alongside annual bills such as taxes, Serafe and insurance, families have other irregular costs:
- Co-payments and deductibles for doctors, dentists and orthodontists
- School camps, class trips and courses billed at once
- A new bicycle, winter jacket or child seat when the old one no longer fits
- Holiday childcare during weeks when daycare or school is closed
Estimate each yearly cost, divide it by twelve and set aside that amount each month. Then the school camp in June is already covered.
When a parent works fewer hours
A smaller workload can change a family budget more than a new child. Before deciding, work through a month with the lower salary, lower taxes and any childcare costs that may disappear. The difference may be smaller or larger than expected. It helps to know before changing jobs.
If you do not want to manage it by hand
SwissBudget+ is made for this kind of budget: several incomes in one household, separate categories for health insurance and Serafe, taxes by canton and municipality with child deductions, and monthly set-asides for annual bills. You can copy a budget to model fewer work hours without changing the original. No account, cloud, ads or bank connection. Your figures stay on your phone, and the app is free.