Real estate, cars and finance – Scout24 reveals costs for Swiss families

Scout24, the leading Swiss network of online marketplaces, has published its annual review for 2020 "What does Switzerland cost?".

The comprehensive report highlights key findings from the Scout24 network's online marketplaces and finance platform, which covers mobility (www.autoscout24.ch & www.motoscout24.ch), housing (www.immoscout24.ch), finance and insurance (www.financescout24.ch) and the classifieds platform (www.anibis.ch)

The business areas of the network represent a significant part of the expenses of a typical Swiss family – living accommodation, car, insurance, leisure and recreation. And that is why "What does Switzerland cost?" provides comprehensive insights into the actual cost of living in Switzerland.

The evaluation is based on 2020 data from all Scout24 marketplaces in Switzerland as well as a market research study in co-operation with the LINK Institute.

Gilles Despas, CEO of Scout24, said: "As the leading Swiss network of online marketplaces, we attract almost 40 million visitors a month to our platforms who make use of our services and expertise. A practical consequence is that we have a rich data source we can tap into to provide a comprehensive ‘snapshot’ of the cost of living in Switzerland. The review highlights our key findings and helps clients make better-informed decisions thanks to our expertise."

The analysis of ImmoScout24 data documents the most expensive and the most affordable places to live in Switzerland in terms of rental apartments and home ownership. It also shows how COVID-19 has influenced the market and caused residential property prices to soar – as well as the pandemic-related trend to move to the countryside.

In addition, the annual review includes data on the cost of new and used vehicles by region. According to AutoScout24, the cheapest new and used vehicles in 2020 were found in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, while new cars cost the most in Zug. Meanwhile, FinanceScout24 data confirms that the level of car insurance premiums depends not only on age, gender and nationality but also to a large extent on the place of residence. In some cases, the difference in premiums between the most expensive and the cheapest insurance is up to 50 per cent. Not surprisingly, men under the age of 25 pay the highest premiums. But here, too, the amount varies depending on where they live.

The survey conducted by anibis.ch found that people in Switzerland often act sustainably in the area of sports and leisure activities and are particularly inclined to buy second-hand equipment online – regardless of where they live and their income. However, they are less willing to buy second-hand jewellery, watches and especially footwear.

The Scout24 marketplaces as well as the associated platform for financial and insurance products have unique expertise in their respective areas – and are thus in an optimal position to support both providers and consumers in their decisions. They can also provide a reliable snapshot of the real cost of living in Switzerland at any time.