Student Housing in Switzerland: Options, Costs and Contracts
By Muntasir • Published Jun 15, 2025 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Student Life, Study in Europe, Country & City Guides, Student Housing
Student housing in Switzerland is tight, especially in Zurich and Geneva, so apply for a room the moment you get your admission letter. Expect CHF 400-750 a month for a dorm-style room or CHF 600-1,100 for a shared flat, plus a deposit worth up to three months' rent.
🏠 Dorm/cooperative rooms: CHF 400-750/month, but they cover only a fraction of demand
Shared flat (WG) room: CHF 600-1,100/month depending on city
💶 Deposit: 1-3 months' rent, held in a blocked bank account
⏱️ Apply for university housing as soon as you have an admission letter
Standard notice period to end a lease runs around three months
Your housing options
Most Swiss cities offer three realistic housing paths for students: a university-linked dorm or cooperative room, a room in a shared flat (Wohngemeinschaft, or WG) on the open market, or a private studio rented alone. Dorm and cooperative rooms cost the least and come with simpler contracts, but supply is limited and far below demand in the biggest cities.
At ETH Zurich, the WOKO student housing cooperative runs around 4,500 rooms from CHF 480 a month, enough for roughly one in ten students in the city, so waiting lists run long. EPFL runs its own on-campus housing from CHF 500 a month, according to study-abroad.org 's cost guide. Apply the moment you receive your admission letter, since spots fill fast and most operators process requests in the order they arrive.
Costs by city
A room in a shared flat runs CHF 750-1,100 a month in Zurich, CHF 700-1,000 in Geneva, CHF 650-950 in Lausanne and CHF 600-850 in Bern. Dorm and cooperative rooms cost roughly CHF 500-750 in Zurich, CHF 500-700 in Geneva, CHF 450-650 in Lausanne and CHF 400-600 in Bern, according to study-abroad.org . Prices run lower in smaller university towns outside these four cities, so factor location into your budget alongside program quality.
| City | Dorm/cooperative room | Shared flat room |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | CHF 500-750 | CHF 750-1,100 |
| Geneva | CHF 500-700 | CHF 700-1,000 |
| Lausanne | CHF 450-650 | CHF 650-950 |
| Bern | CHF 400-600 | CHF 600-850 |
Finding a room on the open market
If university housing has a waiting list longer than your timeline, search the open rental market. Most students find WG rooms through university housing offices, dedicated student housing platforms, or general Swiss rental portals. Contact your university's international or student services office as soon as you accept your offer, since many keep informal lists of rooms and flatmates that never reach public listings.
Landlords commonly ask for proof of income or a guarantor before signing a lease, which can be harder to provide as a new arrival. Some students bridge this gap with a short-term sublet or hostel while they search for permanent housing in person during their first weeks.
Deposits and contracts
Expect to pay a deposit worth one to three months' rent, held in a blocked Swiss bank account rather than paid directly to your landlord. You get this deposit back at the end of your lease if the flat passes a move-out inspection undamaged, so keep a signed move-in report noting any existing damage before you unpack.
Standard leases in Switzerland run with a notice period, commonly around three months, so read your contract's termination clause before you sign, especially if you plan to leave for an exchange semester or after graduation. Sign only a written contract, and keep a copy of everything you send your landlord, since deposit disputes are common enough that most cantons run a tenants' association you can contact for advice.
Practical tips
Register your address with your local commune within the deadline set after you arrive, since this is a legal requirement tied to your residence permit, not an optional step. Budget for basic furnishing if you rent an unfurnished flat, which is standard in Switzerland outside of dorm rooms and some short-term student lets.