How much must you earn to buy a home in Switzerland?
"Can I buy with my salary?" Two simple rules decide everything.
Rule 1: 20 % equity
The bank finances at most 80 % of the price. So you bring at least 20 %, half of which (10 % of price) must be "hard" equity (savings, pillar 3a) — pillar 2 covers only the other 10 %.
Rule 2: 33 % affordability
Theoretical costs must not exceed one third of gross income. They use a 5 % theoretical rate (not the real one), plus 1 % maintenance and amortisation.
🏠 Calculate your borrowing capacityIncome + equity → maximum budget →Example
| Household gross income | 150,000 CHF |
| Equity | 200,000 CHF |
| Realistic purchase budget | ≈ 870,000 CHF |
And for a specific property?
Reverse it: from the price and your equity, compute the minimum income required.
💰 What income for this property?Price + equity → required salary →Remember purchase costs (notary, transfer tax), 0.3 % to 4 % by canton, paid in cash on top.
⚠️ Informative article, not financial or tax advice. Rates and rules change; check your situation with a professional or official sources.