One canton is seeing lower property prices

We all know property prices in Switzerland are high – and tenants are being forced to pay ever higher rent.

But there is one canton which is becoming cheaper – and local politicians say something needs to be done. 

That’s Ticino. 

Rent is nearly 6% less than then rest of the country and buying a house is much cheaper. On average property buyers will be paying CHF 7,000 per M2, compared to CHF 15,000 for the same space in Geneva. 

Ticino is struggling with massive emigration, especially the young, who prefer to live and have a career in German speaking regions – so the resident population is stagnating.

Politicians realise wages are higher elsewhere. Former head of the Swiss People’s Party, Marco Chiesa, who is a Lugano councillor, says the canton needs to fight for wealthy people to live in the canton and persuade companies to base themselves there. 

More from Bitesize News

  • Geneva could foot the G7 bill

    Geneva fears it will be left with the security bill from a G7 summit just across the border in Évian, according to 24 heures.

  • US NGO discovers Swiss child abuse cases

    Switzerland relies too heavily on an American NGO to detect child sexual abuse online, raising questions about the country's ability to protect children on its own.

  • French singer banned by Paleo

    The Paléo Festival in Nyon says it will no longer invite French singer Patrick Bruel, after a former volunteer accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

  • Cars going uninspected

    The cantons are struggling to keep up with mandatory vehicle inspections, leaving more than 550,000 checks overdue nationwide.

  • War may lead to rent rises

    Rents may rise again, says the bank Raiffeisen.

  • Not a heatwave, yet

    Summer has arrived, with temperatures climbing past 30 over the long weekend. Basel reached 31 and Sion hit 32.4, but MeteoSwiss, says this does not yet count as an official heatwave.

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play