The Dilemma: Furnished vs. Unfurnished Rentals in Switzerland (2026)

When relocating to Switzerland, your first instinct is likely: "I need a furnished apartment."

It makes sense. You are arriving with suitcases. You don't want to spend your first weekend at IKEA. You might only be here for 2 years.

However, searching for "Furnished Luxury Apartments" in Zürich or Geneva is the quickest way to limit your options. The Swiss market is structurally designed for long-term, unfurnished leases. By insisting on furniture, you are fighting the market.

Here is why the smartest expats often choose the empty apartment.

1. The "Inventory Gap"

The math is brutal.

• Unfurnished Listings: 90% of the market. This includes the historic villas, the lakefront penthouses, and the charming Altbau flats.
• Furnished Listings: 10% of the market. Mostly concentrated in "Business Apartment" blocks or short-term sublets.

The Consequence: If you demand a furnished unit, you are voluntarily ignoring 90% of the available housing stock. You will likely end up in a standardized corporate building rather than a home with character.

2. The Financial Equation

Furnished rentals in Switzerland are priced for Transience. Landlords charge a massive premium for the risk of short-term tenants and the depreciation of furniture.

• Scenario A (Furnished):

  • Rent: CHF 7,500 / month.
  • Quality: Generic "Business" style furniture.
  • Annual Cost: CHF 90,000.

• Scenario B (Unfurnished + Leasing):

  • Rent: CHF 4,500 / month.
  • Furniture Leasing (High-End): CHF 1,000 / month.
  • Annual Cost: CHF 66,000.

Result: Even with a premium furniture rental contract, the unfurnished option saves you CHF 24,000 per year.

The "Hybrid Strategy": Create Your Own Turn-Key

The modern solution for executives is to decouple the Real Estate from the Interiors.

1. Secure the Asset: Use Offlist to find the best architectural shell in the best location (Seefeld, Cologny, Zug). Don't worry about the lack of lights or curtains.
2. Service the Interior: Hire a Swiss furniture rental company (like Furniture Leasing Corporation or Korn).
   • They deliver everything (beds, sofas, cutlery, linens, lights) before you arrive.
   • They style it to your taste (Modern, Classic, Scandi).
   • They pick it up when you leave.

The Outcome: You get the prime location of a long-term lease with the convenience of a hotel, at a lower total cost.

When to Stick with Furnished

There are, of course, exceptions where a pre-furnished unit is the right choice:

• Duration < 12 Months: If you are on a short rotation, the setup time for unfurnished isn't worth it.
• Permit Bridge: You need an address immediately to register, and you can't wait for a lease negotiation. (See our guide on "Remote Search").
• The "Shadow Sublet": You find a private sublet from a peer (e.g., a banker on sabbatical) via Offlist. These are unique because they contain real personal furniture and art, not "corporate beige" packages.

Conclusion

Don't let a lack of a sofa keep you out of your dream home. In the Swiss luxury market, the apartment is the scarce asset; furniture is just logistics.

Focus your energy on securing the right address. Everything else can be delivered.

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About the Author

Benjamin Amos Wagner

Founder of Expat-Savvy.ch & Offlist | Connecting Expats with Homes