How Much Does a Cleaning Lady Cost in Switzerland? The 2026 Price Guide

If you are thinking about hiring a cleaning lady or home help in Switzerland, the first question is always the same: what will it actually cost? The honest answer is that the hourly rate is only part of it. What you pay depends on the rate, the social contributions you owe as an employer, and whether you hire privately, through an agency, or through a platform.

This 2026 guide breaks down the real cost for Swiss households — clearly, with examples — so you can budget with confidence and avoid expensive surprises.

If you would rather see one transparent price and let the admin be handled, you can create a free client account and book a trusted helper.

The short answer: what a cleaning lady costs in 2026

For private household cleaning in Switzerland in 2026:

The gross wage you agree with a cleaner is usually CHF 25–34/hour. On top of that, as a private employer you owe social contributions and holiday pay, which is why the real all-in cost lands closer to CHF 29–40. Below, we show exactly where that money goes.

What makes up the real cost?

When you employ someone for domestic work in Switzerland, the total cost has three parts:

1. The gross hourly wage. What you and the cleaner agree, at or above the legal minimum (see below). Typically CHF 25–34/hour.
2. Holiday pay. For hourly work this is added as a visible supplement, commonly 8.33% for four weeks of holiday.
3. Employer social contributions and insurance. As the legal employer you pay the employer share of AHV/IV/EO and ALV, plus compulsory accident insurance and fund/administration costs. Together these typically add roughly 10–15% on top of the gross wage.

So a gross rate of CHF 30/hour becomes an effective cost in the region of CHF 35–37/hour once holiday pay and employer costs are included. For the full statutory breakdown, see our legal hiring guide.

What is the legal minimum wage in 2026?

You cannot pay below the legal minimum for the work and canton. For most domestic work, the federal NAV Hauswirtschaft sets gross minimums from 1 January 2026:

• Unskilled: CHF 20.35/hour
• Unskilled with 4+ years' experience: CHF 22.30/hour
• Trained with EBA: CHF 22.30/hour
• Trained with EFZ: CHF 24.55/hour

Some cantons set higher floors — for example Geneva at CHF 24.59/hour. In practice, experienced cleaners with good references charge above these minimums, which is why market rates sit at CHF 25–34.

How many hours do you actually need?

A useful rule of thumb: about half an hour per 20 m². So:

• An 80 m² flat with kitchen and bathroom ≈ 2 hours per visit
• A 120 m² home ≈ 3 hours per visit

Most households book a weekly or fortnightly visit for ongoing upkeep, with occasional extra hours for deep cleaning, windows or ironing.

Real cost example: 3 hours per week

Let's put it together for a typical booking of 3 hours per week at a gross rate of CHF 30/hour:

• Hours per month: 3 × 52 ÷ 12 ≈ 13 hours
• Base gross wage: 13 × CHF 30 = CHF 390
• Holiday pay (8.33%): ≈ CHF 32
• Employer social contributions & insurance (~12%): ≈ CHF 47
• Estimated monthly total: ≈ CHF 469

That works out to an effective cost of roughly CHF 36/hour — predictable, fully declared, and with insurance and a pension building for the person who helps you. Want to model your own numbers? Try the Helpore cost calculator.

Agency, cash, or platform: which is cheapest?

Cleaning company / agency. Convenient, but you pay a markup for the company's margin and overhead — typically CHF 35–50/hour. You usually don't choose the specific person, and continuity can vary.

Cash in hand. It looks cheapest, but it is undeclared work. If an accident happens, you can be fully liable. If it is discovered, you face back payments and penalties. There is no record, no insurance, and no tax deductibility. We explain the real exposure in Cash-in-Hand vs. Compliant Work.

Platform (Helpore). You see the helper's rate up front and pay one transparent price that includes the admin. The contract, AHV registration, accident insurance and payroll are handled for you, so you get the simplicity of an agency without losing control of who cleans your home — and the helper keeps 100% of their wage.

Can you deduct household help from your taxes?

In several Swiss cantons you can deduct part of the cost of household or childcare help — but the rules and ceilings vary by canton, and the work must be declared to qualify. Cash work cannot be deducted, because there is no legal record. Check your cantonal tax office or a tax advisor for your specific situation. This is one more reason declared help often costs less than it first appears.

What you pay with Helpore

Helpore is built to make hiring home help in Switzerland simple and fully compliant:

• One transparent price. You see the helper's rate and book — no hidden agency cut buried in the maths.
• The admin is handled. Employment contract, AHV/AVS registration, accident insurance and payroll are all taken care of.
• You stay in control. You choose the helper, the hours and the tasks.
• Fair for helpers, too. Helpers join free and keep 100% of their gross wage; there is no commission taken from their pay. The household pays a separate service fee on top.

Helpore launches to households across Switzerland on 1 September 2026, and you can set up your account now to be ready first.

• Create a free client account and book a helper
• How hiring home help works with Helpore
• Hiring a cleaner legally in 2026: the full checklist

Are you a cleaner or nanny? See how much to charge in 2026 and create your free Helper profile as a Founding Helper.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cleaning lady cost per hour in Switzerland in 2026?

Hiring privately costs roughly CHF 29–40/hour all-in once you add employer social contributions and holiday pay to a gross wage of about CHF 25–34. Cleaning companies usually charge CHF 35–50/hour.

What is the minimum I can legally pay a cleaner?

The federal NAV Hauswirtschaft sets gross minimums from 1 January 2026 of CHF 20.35/hour (unskilled), CHF 22.30 (4+ years' experience or EBA) and CHF 24.55 (EFZ), with holiday pay on top. Some cantons are higher, for example Geneva at CHF 24.59/hour.

Do I have to pay social contributions?

Yes. AHV/AVS contributions are due from the first franc for declared domestic work, and accident insurance is mandatory. As the household you are the legal employer; with Helpore these are handled for you.

Is cash in hand cheaper?

It looks cheaper but is undeclared and illegal, exposing you to back payments, penalties and full liability for accidents. The real gap to declared work is smaller than most people think.

Can I deduct it from my taxes?

In several cantons you can deduct part of household or childcare help if it is declared. Rules and ceilings vary by canton — check your cantonal tax office.

Official sources

• Federal standard employment contracts (NAV) overview: seco.admin.ch
• Federal Council communication on the NAV Hauswirtschaft wage update (effective 1 January 2026): admin.ch media release
• AHV/AVS domestic work leaflet 2.06 (2026): ahv-iv.ch/p/2.06.e