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:
| How you hire | Typical 2026 cost (per hour) |
|---|---|
| Private hire (declared) | ~CHF 29–40 all-in (gross wage + employer costs) |
| Cleaning company / agency | ~CHF 35–50 |
| Cash in hand | "Cheaper" on paper, but illegal and risky |
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:
- The gross hourly wage. What you and the cleaner agree, at or above the legal minimum (see below). Typically CHF 25–34/hour.
- Holiday pay. For hourly work this is added as a visible supplement, commonly 8.33% for four weeks of holiday.
- 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.
Estimate your own cleaning cost
Every home is different, so use the estimator below to see your own numbers. Pick your home size, how often you want a clean, and a realistic helper rate, then treat the result as a starting point rather than a fixed quote.