Moving Cost in Switzerland 2026: Prices and Money-Saving Tips
Published on 14.10.2026 · Offrendo editorial team
A local move with a professional removal company costs between CHF 700 and 4,500 in Switzerland in 2026, depending on the size of your home: around CHF 700 to 1,500 for up to 2.5 rooms, CHF 1,100 to 2,300 for 3.5 rooms, CHF 1,500 to 3,000 for 4.5 rooms and CHF 2,800 to 4,500 for 5.5 rooms or a house. If you are leaving a rented apartment, budget for the end-of-tenancy cleaning as well: Swiss landlords expect the apartment back thoroughly cleaned, and a cleaning company with a handover guarantee charges CHF 650 to 1,300 for 3.5 rooms. This guide explains how removal companies calculate prices, which costs are often forgotten and how the Swiss official moving dates affect what you pay.
What does the move cost? How big is the apartment?
Moving costs by apartment size
The figures below apply to local moves within the same region by insured companies, with end-of-tenancy cleaning including a handover guarantee. In Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne prices tend to be 10 to 20 per cent higher, in rural regions closer to the lower end. Swiss room counts include the living room and bedrooms but not the kitchen or bathroom.
| Apartment | Move (local) | End-of-tenancy cleaning | Move + cleaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| up to 2.5 rooms | CHF 700 – 1,500 | CHF 500 – 1,000 | approx. CHF 1,200 – 2,500 |
| 3.5 rooms | CHF 1,100 – 2,300 | CHF 650 – 1,300 | approx. CHF 1,800 – 3,600 |
| 4.5 rooms | CHF 1,500 – 3,000 | CHF 900 – 1,800 | approx. CHF 2,500 – 4,800 |
| 5.5 rooms / house | CHF 2,800 – 4,500 | CHF 1,200 – 2,200 | usually quoted after a viewing |
Indicative prices 2026 incl. VAT (Offrendo price guide). Move: transport by a team with a van or lorry, without packing material and extras. Cleaning: empty apartment in normal condition, with handover guarantee.
How Swiss removal companies calculate their prices
Most removal companies charge by time (hours × people × vehicles) or offer a fixed price after a viewing.
- A team of two with a van or lorry usually costs CHF 150 – 250 per hour
- Each additional person costs CHF 50 – 70 per hour
- For distances over 50 km, travel costs of around CHF 2 – 3 per kilometre are added
Ask for a written quote with a fixed price or a cost ceiling. With an hourly rate, the final bill depends on how well everything is packed, how far the van can park from the door and whether there is a lift at both addresses.
Extra costs that are often forgotten
- End-of-tenancy cleaning with handover guarantee: CHF 650 – 1,300 (3.5 rooms)
- Packing material (boxes, wrap, blankets): CHF 100 – 300
- Packing and unpacking service: CHF 60 – 90 per hour and person
- Furniture lift for narrow staircases: CHF 300 – 600 per use
- Collecting and disposing of bulky waste: CHF 80 – 200 per m³
- Clearing a cellar or attic before the handover: CHF 300 – 1,500
- No-parking zone for the removal van: CHF 50 – 150, depending on the municipality
- Re-cleaning by the property management if you clean without a guarantee: CHF 200 – 600, often deducted from your rental deposit
Check with every company whether these items are included. Otherwise you are comparing apples with oranges.
Official moving dates: when moving is most expensive
In Switzerland you usually give three months' notice on a rented apartment, to an official moving date set locally (Art. 266c of the Swiss Code of Obligations), unless your tenancy agreement says otherwise. Depending on the canton these are, for example, 31 March, 30 June and 30 September, or the end of every month except December. As a result, many people move on the same days.
- The most expensive dates are the end of the month, Fridays and Saturdays, and the main moving dates at the end of March, June and September
- Moving on a weekday in the middle of the month often costs 10 to 20 per cent less
- For the main moving dates, request quotes 8 to 12 weeks in advance and book 4 to 6 weeks ahead; outside the peaks three to four weeks are often enough
The official dates for each canton are listed in our guide to moving dates by canton.
Seven ways to save money
- Compare at least three quotes: prices for the same job often differ considerably
- Declutter before you move: every cubic metre less saves time and money
- Pack yourself and leave the transport to the professionals
- Rent boxes from the removal company instead of buying them
- Combine the move and the cleaning with one company: package offers are often 5 to 10 per cent cheaper and save coordination
- Insist on a written quote with a fixed price or a cost ceiling
- Check your insurance cover: the company's liability insurance plus your own household contents insurance
Choosing a removal company
Look for a transparent quote that states the hourly rate, the number of people, the vehicle and the insurance. Check reviews and whether the company is listed in the commercial register. If you also book the end-of-tenancy cleaning, agree in writing when the old apartment will be empty: the cleaning can only start then, and the handover guarantee only applies to an empty apartment.
The ideal sequence is: declutter and dispose of what you no longer need, move, clean the empty apartment, then hand it over to the property management. Many tenants move on one day and have the cleaning and handover on the next.
Comparing moving quotes
Give every company the same details: number of rooms and floor area, floor and lift at both addresses, access and parking, destination and date, heavy items such as a piano or safe, and any extra services such as packing, furniture assembly, disposal or cleaning.
On Offrendo you describe your move once and can compare up to 3 quotes from local companies, free and without obligation.
Moving in your region: local pages
Sources & methodology
As of: 14.10.2026 · editorially reviewed by the Offrendo editorial team
Basis: publicly available price information from Swiss specialist companies, industry information from the professional organisations listed below and Offrendo's own market data where sufficient data is available. All prices are indicative values in CHF incl. VAT for Switzerland – not quotes.
Percentages for price differences, surcharges or budget shares are industry experience values, not Offrendo statistics.
Offrendo's own market data will be included as soon as there are at least 20 quotes per category. Insights →
Professional organisations and primary sources
- ASTAG – Schweizerischer Nutzfahrzeugverband (Fachgruppe Möbeltransport)
- Swiss Code of Obligations (Art. 266c CO) – Fedlex
Public sources for the guide prices (checked on 15.10.2026)
- Move, 2.5-room apartment (local): CHF 700 – CHF 1'500 flat rate · Sources: comparis.ch (2025), top-offerten.ch (2026)
- Move, 4.5-room apartment (local): CHF 1'500 – CHF 3'000 flat rate · Sources: comparis.ch (2025), ofri.ch (2026)
- Moving crew (2 people + van): CHF 150 – CHF 250 per hour · Sources: ofri.ch (2026), offerten-portal.ch (2026)
- End-of-tenancy cleaning with handover guarantee (3.5-room apartment): CHF 600 – CHF 1'500 flat rate · Source: comparis.ch (2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to move a 3.5-room apartment?
Within the same region usually CHF 1,100 to 2,300 for transport by a team of two with a van or lorry, without cleaning and packing material. In large cities prices tend towards the upper end.
How much do moving and end-of-tenancy cleaning cost together?
For a 3.5-room apartment, around CHF 1,800 to 3,600 for a local move plus cleaning with a handover guarantee: CHF 1,100 to 2,300 for the move and CHF 650 to 1,300 for the cleaning.
Can I deduct moving costs from my taxes?
Private moves are generally not deductible. If you move for work, it is worth checking with the tax administration of your canton.
How early should I book a removal company?
For the main moving dates, request quotes 8 to 12 weeks in advance and book 4 to 6 weeks ahead. Outside the peak dates, three to four weeks are often enough.
How many quotes should I get?
Three quotes are a good balance: enough to compare without being overwhelmed by calls. That is also the maximum number you receive through Offrendo.
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