For the first time since 2019-2020, advertised rents are falling across Switzerland, and Ticino leads the decline, with a 10.9 percent drop between July 2025 and July 2026. The latest Rental Home Market Price Analysis by the Swiss Real Estate Institute for the newhome portal certifies it, as reported by moneymag.ch: the average advertised rent in the canton is 1,501 francs a month.

The Ticino figure is the sharpest among the six regions analysed: followed by the canton of Zurich at minus 3.3 percent and Espace Mittelland at minus 0.9 percent, while Central Switzerland (plus 2.3 percent) and Eastern Switzerland (plus 1.4) go against the trend. Zurich remains the most expensive region at 2,340 francs net a month, Espace Mittelland the cheapest at 1,452. The rent of already occupied homes, not on the market, is 1,245 francs: the lowest among the six Swiss regions and 16 percent below the national average.

Lugano, a market looking for direction

In Lugano the rental housing market continues to slow after the previous period's surge. The June 2026 Online Housing Index of the Swiss Real Estate Institute, commissioned by SVIT Switzerland, HEV Switzerland and newhome, shows it: compared with the previous year, listing volume fell 16 percent to 6,390 listings, and average time on market rose four days to 33 days, well above the national average of 24 days. Together with Neuchâtel and Fribourg, Lugano ranks among the cities with the least tight market.

By price segment, apartments under 1,000 francs a month are the exception: volume is up 61 percent and listings turn over faster. Particularly hit are homes between 2,500 and 3,000 francs, with supply down 48 percent. Signs of a market reorienting toward the affordable end, while the upper end struggles to find demand.

This article was translated from the Italian edition of Lugano Tribune.