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Holiday apartments – renting vs buying

01.09.2025 | Sandra Biraghi

Owning your own holiday apartment gives you freedom – but it also comes with certain responsibilities. So what makes more sense – renting for flexibility, or investing in a place to call your own? We explain the pros and cons of both options.

Holiday apartments – renting vs buying

01.09.2025 | Sandra Biraghi

Owning your own holiday apartment gives you freedom – but it also comes with certain responsibilities. So what makes more sense – renting for flexibility, or investing in a place to call your own? We explain the pros and cons of both options.

Many of us dream of having our own retreat by the lake, in the mountains or by the sea – a peaceful place to unwind and leave the daily grind behind.

In fact, according to the latest ideal home survey conducted by Helvetia and MoneyPark, around 16% of respondents own a holiday home or a second home in Switzerland (9%) or abroad (7%), and a further 14% have firm plans to buy one. But these figures are still lower than in the previous survey from 2021. This may be because the benefits of renting have since started to outweigh those of buying.

Renting a holiday apartment – flexible and straightforward

Benefits of renting

Uncomplicated: Book, arrive, enjoy.
Location-independent: Pick your destination based on your mood – return to your favourite place or try somewhere new.
Cost-transparent: In addition to the rental price, you usually just pay the tourist tax and, depending on the rental agreement, a fixed fee for cleaning after you leave. Optional extras can also be booked.

Benefits of renting

Uncomplicated: Book, arrive, enjoy.
Location-independent: Pick your destination based on your mood – return to your favourite place or try somewhere new.
Cost-transparent: In addition to the rental price, you usually just pay the tourist tax and, depending on the rental agreement, a fixed fee for cleaning after you leave. Optional extras can also be booked.

Disadvantages of renting

Seasonal: Finding suitable accommodation in popular regions can be difficult, especially in peak season, during school holidays or if booking at short notice. Holiday apartments tend to be more expensive during these periods.

Disadvantages of renting

Seasonal: Finding suitable accommodation in popular regions can be difficult, especially in peak season, during school holidays or if booking at short notice. Holiday apartments tend to be more expensive during these periods.

Buying a holiday apartment – freedom but responsibilities

Benefits of buying

Independent: A holiday apartment is your own permanent retreat that you can furnish and decorate to your own tastes.
Emotional: A property passed down in the family can hold cherished childhood memories.
Self-financing: Renting it out to other holidaymakers offsets your own costs.
Profitable: A holiday apartment can increase in value and be a good investment.

Benefits of buying

Independent: A holiday apartment is your own permanent retreat that you can furnish and decorate to your own tastes.
Emotional: A property passed down in the family can hold cherished childhood memories.
Self-financing: Renting it out to other holidaymakers offsets your own costs.
Profitable: A holiday apartment can increase in value and be a good investment.

Disadvantages of buying

Cost-intensive: In addition to mortgage interest, you will also have ongoing costs for maintenance, energy and insurance – and will generally pay more tax as well.
Binding: In a condominium owners’ group, there are certain rules and obligations – such as contributing towards the cost of maintaining communal property.
Location-bound: Holidays and breaks will be mostly tied to the same place.
Time-consuming: Repairs, cleaning and administration need to be planned and organised.

Disadvantages of buying

Cost-intensive: In addition to mortgage interest, you will also have ongoing costs for maintenance, energy and insurance – and will generally pay more tax as well.
Binding: In a condominium owners’ group, there are certain rules and obligations – such as contributing towards the cost of maintaining communal property.
Location-bound: Holidays and breaks will be mostly tied to the same place.
Time-consuming: Repairs, cleaning and administration need to be planned and organised.

Top tips for buying a holiday home

Find out what you need to consider when buying a holiday apartment at home or abroad in the blog.

read the blog

read the blog

When does buying make sense financially?

Prices at Swiss holiday resorts have continued to rise in recent years, which means the buying price alone can already be a major obstacle.

Annual expenses include mortgage interest, administrative costs, utilities, insurance, depreciation, contingency funds and taxes. These figures can vary greatly and depend on many factors. The following cost comparison serves as a guide:

If we compare the aforementioned annual expenses for a property worth CHF 600,000 with the cost of renting an average holiday apartment at CHF 170–250 per night, you would need to use it yourself for 9–13 weeks per year to break even. For a property worth CHF 1,000,000, you would need to use it yourself for about three to five months to match the cost of renting. These figures differ depending on aspects such as seasonal demand and the price levels in the specific holiday region.

Renting out the property can make a significant contribution to your fixed costs, but it limits your own use and generates additional expenses, such as for management and cleaning. Furthermore, any rental income you generate is subject to tax.

The situation is different if a property is bought together with other people or families, or if it is inherited. In such cases, the fixed costs can be split. However, fair planning is essential to ensure that no one feels disadvantaged when it comes to using the property.

Summary: Renting or buying – which is better?

Both options have clear advantages and drawbacks that are worth weighing up. For those who value flexibility and variety and want to have full control over the cost of their holidays, renting is probably the better choice. Buying a holiday apartment is a luxury. If you can afford it and enjoy using it regularly, it can greatly enhance your quality of life.

The current most attractive mortgage interest rates.

Saron mortgage from*

0.65%

Fixed-rate 10 years from

1.37%

Fixed-rate 5 years from

1.03%

* The value shown here for a SARON mortgage is made up of the current SARON (Swiss Average Rate Overnight) and the individual margin of the mortgage lender. Generally speaking, the interest rates shown are the best conditions currently available. Your personal interest rate may differ based on the loan-to-value ratio, affordability, mortgage volume and location of the property.