How much does it cost to raise a child in Switzerland?

The desire to have children always comes with a few practical considerations. One of them is how to finance a child. But the question “How much does it cost to raise a child in Switzerland?” isn’t one that can be answered in a single sentence. The truth is, it depends - on where you live in Switzerland, your lifestyle, and your income level. Households with higher incomes tend to spend more on average, including on their children. In this article, we’ll give you a clear overview of what it really costs to raise a child in Switzerland.

Table of Contents

• Costs of raising a child until the age of 18
• What about the second child?
• Cost breakdown for raising a child in Switzerland
• Indirect costs of having a child in Switzerland
• My conclusion on “How much does a child cost in Switzerland?

Costs of raising a child until the age of 18

You often hear that raising a child can cost parents up to one million francs over their lifetime. But is that really true? According to the Youth and Career Advisory Office of the Canton of Zurich, raising a child until their 18th birthday costs between CHF 1'320.- and 1'79.-0 per month (as of 2021). If you do the math, that amounts to CHF 333'000.- in total by the time your child reaches adulthood. But hold on—this figure only includes direct costs.

Indirect costs, such as daycare expenses, can add significantly to the bill. And for many families, childcare is one of the largest financial burdens.

What about the second child?

One important factor to keep in mind is that a second or third child can actually reduce the per-child cost. In larger families, monthly expenses per person often decrease. For example, major purchases like strollers, baby clothes, or changing tables don’t need to be bought again for child number two.

The not-so-great news? These savings tend to disappear once the children become teenagers. Depending on your personal situation, additional costs may arise, such as the need for a bigger car or a larger home.

Cost breakdown for raising a child in Switzerland

Let’s now take a closer look at the different cost categories. This way, you’ll get a clearer picture of what raising a child in Switzerland can actually cost.

The table below gives you a basic overview—note how the expenses vary depending on the child’s age:

Housing

Housing costs for a child in Switzerland average CHF 520.- per month, which typically covers the cost of an additional bedroom. This amount doesn’t change with the child’s age, but it does depend heavily on the canton you live in. On top of that, you can add around CHF 70.- for household-related expenses.

Food & Clothing

You should budget around CHF 300.- per month for your child’s food. Clothing adds another CHF 100.-. These amounts do vary by age—especially during the teenage years, when both categories can become significantly more expensive.

Health Insurance & Medical Expenses

In Switzerland, your child must be registered with a health insurance provider no later than three months after birth. Premiums depend on your income and your chosen insurance company. Typically, children's premiums amount to 20–25% of an adult’s premium.

Medical costs are another unpredictable but important expense. On average, you can expect to spend CHF 150.- per month in this category.

Childcare & Schooling

Childcare is considered an indirect cost, but let’s be honest—for many families, it’s one of the biggest financial challenges. Daycare centers in Switzerland can be expensive, often charging CHF 120 to 150.- per day, depending on the child’s age.

As your child enters kindergarten, your expenses decrease significantly. Public kindergartens in Switzerland are free of charge. In fact, from the age of four, kindergarten attendance is mandatory in 25 out of 26 Swiss cantons. However, you’ll likely still need to budget for after-school care or afternoon supervision.

Private kindergartens, on the other hand, cost about the same as a daycare spot—so the price tag remains high.

Public schools in Switzerland are also free. Primary school starts at age six. Of course, if you choose a private school, you’ll face significantly higher costs. For example, a Montessori school in Bern charges between CHF 716.- and 1'650.- per month.

Leisure Activities

This is one of the most personal (and variable) expense categories. That said, the older your child gets, the more you’ll likely spend on leisure.

For children under 4 years old, you might spend around CHF 50.- per month. But by the teenage years, leisure expenses can climb to CHF 360.- per month or more. Music lessons, sports activities, and weekend outings can really add up over time.

Indirect costs of having a child in Switzerland

When it comes to parenthood, the indirect costs are often underestimated. These can have just as big of an impact as the direct expenses. Let’s break them down:

Reduced working hours

Chances are, either you or your partner will stay home for at least a few weeks—or even several months—after your baby is born. Employed women in Switzerland are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity benefits, which cover up to 80% of their salary. Depending on your employer, this can even go up to 100% pay for up to 5-6 months.

If your partner wants to stay home? Unfortunately, Switzerland isn’t very generous: paternity leave is just 2 weeks by law. Some employers offer extended leave (up to 6-8 weeks), but it rarely matches the maternity benefit in terms of duration or pay.

Impact on your career

Let’s be honest—having a child often comes with career setbacks, at least for one parent. This so-called “career dip” is common, and it can lead to a reduction in household income—sometimes long term.

Retirement Planning

Reduced income also affects your retirement savings. With lower earnings, your pension contributions may decrease, which can result in a smaller pension later in life. You can, of course, take out additional voluntary retirement savings plans—but those, too, count as part of your hidden or indirect costs.

What tax deductions can I claim with children?

If you have children, you can benefit from the following tax deductions:

Childcare deduction: For federal taxes, you can deduct up to CHF 25'800.- per child per year (as of 2025) from your taxable income for childcare costs. The amount varies at the cantonal level. If no other agreement is in place, unmarried couples can each claim half of this deduction. Married couples apply the deduction in their joint tax filing.

Child deduction: You can also claim a child deduction of CHF 6'800.- per child per year (as of 2025) on your federal taxes. Again, the amounts vary by canton. If no other agreement is in place, unmarried couples split the deduction equally, while married couples claim it jointly.

Insurance deduction: You can deduct up to CHF 700.- per child per year for health insurance on your federal taxes. Cantonal rules may vary. The same rules for splitting the deduction between unmarried and married couples apply here as well.

Parent tax rate: At the federal level, parents benefit from a special tax rate, which allows for a direct deduction of CHF 250.- per child per year from the total tax owed. Married couples are taxed using the joint married rate.

You can find my complete tax checklist here!

My conclusion on “How much does it cost to raise a child in Switzerland?

Children are, unsurprisingly, expensive over a lifetime—and in Switzerland, government support is significantly lower than in countries like Germany. You’ll especially notice the financial pressure during the early years of parenthood. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of these costs from the beginning and to put a solid financial plan in place.