Inflation is low and still dropping in Switzerland, which is a good thing for the purchasing power, as you can pay less (even if slightly) for some consumer goods and services.
But there are also other ways where you can save money by making informed choices:
‘Maximise’ your savings
Interest rates in Switzerland have been falling steadily , which is good if you need a mortgage (read more about this below) — but not if have money parked in the bank.
According to Moneyland price comparison platform, “the annual interest rates of Swiss savings accounts have been falling and now stand well below the 1-percent mark.
“That is not good news for savers,” said Benjamin Manz, Moneyland’s managing director. “And we can expect to see savings interest rates fall even further over the course of this year.”
However, some banks offer higher rates on savings than others, but you must be willing to move your money to smaller ones.
For example, the ‘Compte Epargne Plus’ offered by the Caisse d’Epargne d’Aubonne currently has an interest rate of 1 percent per year, according to Moneyland.
The ‘Sparkonto Plus 12 Monate’ from the Spar- und Leihkasse Frutigen offers an annual interest rate of 0.9 percent.
The ‘Compte Epargne Top’ from the Clientis Caisse d’Epargne Courtelary and the Anlagesparkonto from the Glarner Regionalbank both have interest rates of 0.8 percent.
And the ‘Beteiligungssparkonto’ from Bank Wir as well as ‘the Steinbockkonto Plus’ from BSU both have interest rates of 0.75 percent.
Those are admittedly not very significant rates, but they are still higher than those offered in other banks.
Take advantage of low mortgage rates
If you are buying a property, there’s bad news and good news.
The bad: prices of properties keep climbing and are not expected to fall anytime soon (if ever).
But the good news is that mortgages are now much more affordable.
Of course, they could fluctuate — either up or down — depending on the policies of the Swiss National Bank (SNB).
However, “inflation is now slowing down more quickly than expected. The sharp drop in the rates for fixed-rate mortgages reflects the SNB’s continued rate cuts,” said Dirk Renkert, money expert at Comparis consumer platform.
“It’s a good idea to keep an eye on interest rate forecasts, as they are constantly changing,” he added.
Until the end of June 2025, rates for 10-year fixed-rate mortgages are expected to fluctuate in the range of 1.45 to 1.65 percent, he said.
As for the for five-year fixed-rate mortgages, they are likely to fluctuate between 1.30 and 1.45 percent — which is positive news for anyone wanting to finance a property now or in the near future.
You can stay updated on the best mortgage deals here.
READ ALSO: Mortgage rate drop in Switzerland spells good news for buyers
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Save on taxes
You can pay less taxes (legally) if you know what deductions you are entitled to claim on your declaration.
For instance:
- Deduct the cost of your health, car, and life insurance.
- Deduct any medical costs for accidents or illnesses that are not covered by insurance. Out-of-pocket costs towards the deductible and coinsurance payments of mandatory health insurance can also be deducted. The costs of prescription glasses and contact lenses, licensed homeopathics, and dental work can also be deducted.
- Personal expenses for continuing education in connection with your career are generally tax deductible.
- The cost of commuting to work and back can be deducted from your taxable income.
- Voluntary, additional contributions to your occupational pension fund to close gaps in your pension benefits can be deducted from your taxable income in full.
- You can claim a tax exemption for each of your dependent children. This can be deducted from your taxable income.
These are all the other deductions you can claim.
Save on health insurance
When it comes time to renew your obligatory health insurance policy in November, you can save by switching to a cheaper model:
Health maintenance organisation (HMO)
Under this model, policyholders are required to consult a particular HMO practice. Two disadvantages of this alternative is a limited choice of doctors and you also need a referral to see a specialist.
However, the benefit is a premium reduction of up to 25 percent compared to the conventional insurance.
Family doctor model
Your family doctor, a general practitioner be in charge of all your non-emergency medical treatment.
He or she will refer you to a specialist if necessary.
If you opt for this option, you could save 20 percent on your insurance.
The Telmed alternative
If you choose this option, you have to call a telephone service and get a referral to a doctor or hospital.
This does not apply to medical emergencies and there are other exceptions, such as eye exams and annual gynaecological check-ups.
Total savings could range between 15 and 20 percent.
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You can also save money if you:
Increase your deductible
In Switzerland, the deductible (franchise) ranges from 300 to 2,500 francs – this represents the medical costs that you have to pay out of your own pocket before your health insurance kicks in.
As with most types of insurance, the lower your deductible, the higher your premiums, and vice-versa.
If you are young, healthy, and are not on any long-term medication, then you can save substantially with the highest franchise.
Keep in mind, however, that if you choose the highest deductible and end up having an accident or falling sick and needing medical care, you will have to pay a greater proportion of the costs.
Pay the premiums in one lump sum
Most insurance carriers will give you a 2-percent reduction if you pay your premiums upfront rather than on monthly basis.
If you can manage to come up with this large annual amount by January, you can save several up to several hundred francs.
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Get a cheaper mobile plan
But to do that, you must be willing to change your carrier or subscription.
More than 100 different mobile telecom subscriptions and prepaid mobile plans are offered in Switzerland, along with countless supplemental options and bundles.
Some are more affordable than others, and by migrating to a different plan, you can end up saving quite a bit of money.
Offers change frequently from one carrier to another, so to find the most current ones you can compare plans on Moneyland or Comparis.
