Rising costs squeeze Switzerland’s middle class

Rising living costs are putting pressure on Switzerland’s middle class, as well as people on low incomes.

In the canton of Vaud, two families say that bills leave them with less money for holidays, leisure and other extras.

One couple, who earn 11,200 francs net each month, says their fixed costs exceed 7,000 francs, and they are holding back from fully filling their heating-oil tanks.

A farming couple with a gross annual income of about 280,000 francs says monthly expenses often reach 20,000 francs.

A January 2026 survey found that 89 percent of people in French-speaking Switzerland carefully track their spending, while more than half cut back on leisure and holidays and 47 percent on food.

The squeeze matters because even households that can pay their bills say they have less left over and feel their standard of living is slipping.

Politicians disagree on what to do: one calls for stricter enforcement of rules to reduce rents and fuel margins, while another backs lower taxes and fees.

In Vaud, voters recently supported an initiative calling for lower cantonal income and wealth taxes, while housing, public transport and energy costs are still rising.