Impact of Digital Nomads on the Swiss Rental Market

Published on October 2, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

The rise of remote work has transformed the global professional landscape, and Switzerland, with its picturesque scenery and robust digital infrastructure, is emerging as a sought-after destination for digital nomads.

As these itinerant workers flock to Switzerland’s scenic towns, their lifestyles and specific demands are having a notable impact on the country’s rental market.

This article explores how the growing presence of these digital nomads is redefining the local economy and the challenges that property owners and real estate agencies must face to adapt to this new demand.

Rental Market Challenges Faced by Digital Nomads in Switzerland

The boom of digital nomads in Switzerland is disrupting the rental market, particularly in urban areas (Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne) and tourist regions. This new category of tenants is creating both economic opportunities and several major challenges for the sector.

Main Challenges Related to the Massive Arrival of Digital Nomads:

• Increased pressure on the supply of flexible furnished housing, especially in city centers where vacancy rates are often below 1%.
• Marked increase in rents for studios and furnished apartments: exceeding 1,500 CHF/month has become common for small spaces in city centers.
• Scarcity of long-term housing accessible to permanent residents; some neighborhoods see availability significantly decrease while turnover increases in buildings partially converted to short-term rentals or co-living.
• Difficult adaptation of older real estate stock (need for spaces suitable for remote work, included services…).

Summary Table: Market Evolution Under the Influence of Digital Nomads

Aspect	Before Digital Nomad Boom	After Digital Nomad Boom
Typical Duration	Months/Years	Several weeks to several months
Dominant Supply	Traditional Rental	Flexible Furnished/Co-living
Average Studio Price City Center	~1,100 CHF/month	>1,500 CHF/month
Vacancy Rate	~2%

Co-living in Switzerland: A Solution for Digital Nomads

Co-living is attracting a growing number of digital nomads in Switzerland, establishing itself as a modern alternative suited to the realities of remote work. This solution appeals due to its flexibility, community aspect, and privileged access to strategic locations.

Reasons for Co-living’s Popularity Among Digital Nomads

• Rental Flexibility: Contracts are generally short-term or monthly, with no long-term commitment or complex administrative procedures.
• Strategic Location: Many spaces are located near major urban centers (Zurich, Geneva) or in iconic natural sites like Lenk or Liddes in the Swiss Alps.
• Active Community: Co-living life facilitates meeting other entrepreneurs, freelancers, and travelers sharing the same lifestyle.

Main Advantages

Advantage	Description
Flexibility	Adaptable stays (from a few weeks to several months), without traditional lease
Social & Professional Network	Networking opportunities and collaborations among residents
Included Services	Equipped spaces for work (ergonomic desks, meeting rooms), shared kitchen
Internet Connectivity	High-speed fiber optic available everywhere
Community Life	Organized activities (workshops, outings) promoting integration

Adaptation to Specific Needs

Swiss co-living spaces are designed to meet the requirements of digital nomads:

• Ergonomic Furniture
• Common areas for work and relaxation
• Ultra-fast internet connection essential for remote work
• Easy access to public transportation and urban amenities

Concrete Examples of Spaces in Switzerland

• Lenk Coliving: Located in the Simmental valley with mountain views; appreciated for its modern facilities combining coworking and sports activities.
• Liddes Coliving: Popular for its friendly atmosphere that easily fosters connections during events or shared meals.

“Staying at coliving spaces is an easy way to make friends and connections while travelling.”

Testimonials also highlight the collaborative spirit: sharing daily life with other independent workers sparks creativity and innovation through constant collective emulation.

Impact on the Swiss Rental Market

The development of co-living significantly influences the local real estate market:

Co-living vs Traditional Rental Comparison

Criterion	Co-living	Traditional Rental
Commitment	Flexible	Long-term
Furniture/Equipment	Included	Often not included
Services	Coworking & social events	Limited
Overall Cost	Sometimes higher but all-inclusive	Cheaper but additional fees

The growing demand is pushing some property owners to convert their properties into structures suitable for flexible work. This sometimes contributes to reducing the traditional supply in the long-term segment in certain cities attractive to digitally active foreigners.

Recent Trends & Statistics

According to Digital Nomad World:

The co-living trend is expected to continue its progression as more professionals opt for increased mobility.

In 2024:

• Notable increase in the number of dedicated spaces (+15% vs 2022)
• Over one-third of new arrivals in these structures are aged between 25 and 40

Digital nomads surveyed consistently cite the international community encountered and administrative simplicity among the determining factors motivating their choice.

The Importance of High-Speed Wi-Fi for Swiss Digital Nomads

Digital nomads have specific needs regarding Internet connectivity, as their lifestyle and productivity entirely depend on reliable and fast Wi-Fi access. High-speed access is crucial for several reasons:

• High-definition video calls (Zoom, Teams) require a stable connection to avoid interruptions or loss of audio and visual quality.
• Sharing and downloading large files (graphic projects, videos, bulky data) require significant bandwidth to reduce waiting times.
• Constant access to online collaborative platforms (Google Drive, Notion, Slack) enables smooth management of remote projects with international teams.
• Automatic cloud synchronization ensures the security of sensitive professional documents.

In Switzerland, the Internet infrastructure is particularly developed. According to the latest sector studies:

Indicator	Recent Data
Fiber Optic Coverage	>90% population
Average Speed Observed	100–200 Mbps
Public Wi-Fi Availability	Very High

Major advantages for digital nomads are:

• An almost unparalleled network reliability in cities like Geneva or Zurich.
• Many tech-friendly coworking spaces offering secure and high-performance Wi-Fi.
• Easy access to local SIMs or eSIMs suitable for international roaming.

However, some challenges remain:

• In some Swiss Alpine or rural regions, access to very high speed may be limited despite good overall national coverage.
• The high cost of some local mobile plans can be a barrier for those who prefer working in isolated locations.

This level of infrastructure strongly influences geographical choice: the majority opt for large urban areas where ultra-fast Internet is guaranteed. This also has a direct impact on the Swiss rental market: the more a region offers efficient and stable connectivity—via modern coworkings or equipped housing—the more it attracts this new flexible tenant profile. Property owners are therefore adapting their offers: listings highlighting “fiber optic included,” shared offices with premium Wi-Fi…

Key Takeaway:
Without a reliable Internet connection, no work: it’s often the first thing a digital nomad checks upon arriving in a new country.

The continuous development of the Swiss digital network not only favors the arrival but also the long-term settlement of digital nomads—thus bringing local economic dynamism through their increased presence in the temporary real estate market.

Short-Term Rental Contracts: How Switzerland Adapts to Digital Nomads

The growing influx of digital nomads into Switzerland has profoundly influenced the evolution of short-term rental contracts. This trend translates into a multiplication of demands for flexible, furnished housing suitable for remote work, while posing several regulatory and economic challenges.

Legislative and Regulatory Evolution

• Switzerland does not yet offer a specific visa for digital nomads; only EU/EEA citizens can stay up to three months without restrictions thanks to freedom of movement. Beyond that, it is necessary to obtain another permit suitable for extended stays or independent activity.
• Swiss authorities are currently examining various adaptations to harmonize the rental market with this new international demand, although legislation remains more restrictive than in Portugal or other European countries that already offer a “digital nomad visa.”
• Some cities are considering implementing quotas on short-term rentals to avoid saturation of the traditional residential market.

Initiatives by Property Owners and Platforms

• Property owners now prefer flexible leases (from a few weeks to several months), often renewable without long-term commitment.
• The supply has expanded with a majority of fully furnished apartments including high-speed internet connection, spaces dedicated to remote work, and additional services (cleaning, maintenance).
• Platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com facilitate these processes through simplified reservation management and clearly identified “work-friendly” options.

Adaptations Specific to Digital Nomads’ Needs

List of major adaptations:

• Increased flexibility on minimum/maximum lease duration
• Guaranteed access to fast internet
• Common or private spaces arranged for coworking
• Turnkey services: laundry, weekly cleaning, technical assistance

Challenges Faced by the Rental Market

Summary table:

Challenge Encountered	Explanation
Rent Inflation	Rapid increase due to high demand in urban centers
Local Saturation	Tourist/innovative cities see their rental stock strained
Pressure on Local Housing	Increased difficulty for classic residents (students/families)

In popular cities like Zurich or Geneva—highly attractive to international mobile workers—these phenomena lead to an imbalance between short-term rentals intended for foreigners and access to affordable housing for local residents.

Emerging Economic Opportunities

Non-exhaustive list:

• Growth of the real estate sector dedicated to premium temporary stays
• Accelerated development of hybrid co-living/coworking spaces throughout the country
• Increased valuation of real estate assets through digital optimization (smart management, home automation)

Swiss stakeholders are also betting on off-season tourist diversification thanks to extended stays generating local economic added value (restaurants, soft mobility).

The massive arrival of digital nomads therefore acts as a catalyst: it pushes both contractual and technological innovation among all Swiss real estate players.

This dynamic, however, requires continuous vigilance regarding social risks linked to the increased cost of traditional housing in some particularly coveted areas.