Save money

How to Save Money in Switzerland — The Complete Guide

Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world, but locals know dozens of ways to cut costs dramatically. This guide covers everything — from grocery hacks to free transport days, second-hand shops to childcare subsidies — all filtered by your canton or city.

Filter tips by city

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Food & groceries

Aldi, Lidl, M-Budget, 50% stickers and Too Good To Go.

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Public transport

Halbtax, GA, Supersaver tickets and city day passes.

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Childcare (Kita)

Subsidies, Tagesfamilien and tax deductions.

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Free & cheap activities

Free museum days, hikes, swimming and libraries.

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Second-hand shopping

Ricardo, Tutti, Brockis and flea markets.

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Bike rentals

PubliBike, free city schemes and SBB station bikes.

Quick wins — top 5 tips that work everywhere

1
Get a Halbtax (CHF 185/year) — pays for itself after roughly CHF 370 of train travel.
2
Shop the bottom shelves: M-Budget (Migros) and Prix Garantie (Coop) cut your grocery bill 30–50%.
3
Install Too Good To Go and grab CHF 15 magic bags from bakeries and supermarkets for CHF 5–6.
4
Visit museums on the first Sunday of the month — most major Swiss museums are free.
5
Buy furniture and bikes second-hand on Ricardo or Tutti — Swiss kit is barely used and 60–80% cheaper.

Frequently asked questions

How can I save money in Switzerland?

The biggest wins are: shop at Aldi, Lidl and Denner instead of Migros/Coop, get a Halbtax travelcard, use Too Good To Go for food, buy furniture and bikes second-hand on Ricardo and Tutti, and apply for Kita subsidies if you have children.

Is it cheaper to shop at Migros or Coop?

Coop and Migros are roughly the same price for branded items. M-Budget (Migros) and Prix Garantie (Coop) are both 30–50% cheaper than branded equivalents. For the lowest prices, switch to Aldi, Lidl or Denner — typically 25–40% cheaper than Migros/Coop on like-for-like staples.

What is the cheapest way to travel in Switzerland?

Get a Halbtax (CHF 185/year) and combine it with Supersaver tickets booked in advance via the SBB app. For daily commuters and frequent travellers, a GA at CHF 3,995/year becomes cheaper than CHF 7,000+ of paid travel.

Are there free activities in Switzerland?

Yes — most public museums are free on the first Sunday of every month. SchweizMobil's 65,000 km of marked hiking trails are free. Lake swimming is free off-season at most Strandbäder, and city libraries cost nothing to join.

Where do Swiss people buy second-hand?

Online: Ricardo (auctions), Tutti (free classifieds), Vinted (clothes) and Anibis (French-speaking cantons). In person: Brocki shops, Caritas Markt and Sunday flea markets in Zurich, Geneva and Basel.

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