Apartment renovation cost in Switzerland: partial or complete (2026)

Pièce d'un appartement ancien en cours de rénovation avec matériel de chantier et portes-fenêtres

Apartment renovation cost in French-speaking Switzerland: how much does it cost in 2026?

Refreshing an apartment, redoing the kitchen and bathroom or overhauling everything down to the building services: here are the prices published in 2026 for a partial or complete renovation in French-speaking Switzerland, the differences between Geneva and Vaud, the authorisations to plan for and our tips.

Please note: these amounts are indicative and do not replace a personalised quote. Each price states whether it is excluding VAT (excl. VAT), including VAT (incl. VAT) or whether the source does not say. Renovation work is subject to the standard VAT rate of 8.1% [1].

Overall budget depending on the scope of the work

For a 3.5-room apartment of 80 to 90 m² in French-speaking Switzerland (excluding Geneva), SOS-Travaux.ch publishes the following ranges, 8.1% VAT included [2]:

Level Work involved Indicative budget (incl. VAT)
Refresh Painting, floor coverings, taps, light fittings CHF 8’000 to 20’000
Partial renovation Bathroom or kitchen, painting, new floors CHF 25’000 to 55’000
Intermediate renovation Bathroom and kitchen, painting, parquet CHF 55’000 to 100’000
Complete renovation Kitchen, bathroom, floors, partition walls CHF 100’000 to 180’000

The price per m²

  • Offrendo (incl. VAT): light renovation (floors, walls, refresh) CHF 800 to 1’200/m²; major renovation (new service lines, bathroom, kitchen) CHF 1’200 to 2’000/m² [3].
  • La Boîte de Travaux (VAT not specified): light renovation CHF 600 to 1’200/m², medium CHF 1’200 to 2’000/m², complete CHF 2’000 to 3’000/m² [4].
  • Béon Rénovation, Geneva (VAT not specified): refurbishment from CHF 900/m², complete renovation CHF 1’200 to 1’800/m², high-end from CHF 1’800/m² [5].

Geneva and Vaud: what are the differences?

According to La Boîte de Travaux, a medium renovation costs CHF 1’600 to 2’200/m² in Geneva and CHF 1’300 to 1’800/m² in Lausanne and the canton of Vaud, with Geneva consistently 15 to 25% more expensive than the rest of French-speaking Switzerland [4]. For an 80 m² apartment in Geneva, Béon Rénovation estimates a complete renovation at around CHF 96’000 to 144’000 [5].

The main items

Ranges published by SOS-Travaux.ch for French-speaking Switzerland [2]:

  • bathroom, standard complete renovation: CHF 12’000 to 22’000;
  • entry-level kitchen (without appliances): CHF 5’000 to 12’000, mid-range CHF 12’000 to 25’000;
  • engineered parquet supplied and laid: CHF 80 to 180/m²;
  • complete painting of a 3.5-room apartment: CHF 4’000 to 9’000.

In an older building, asbestos can increase the bill: regulated asbestos removal easily adds CHF 5’000 to 15’000 [4], and an analysis should be planned for buildings constructed before 1990 [3].

Procedures

If you are a tenant

Any renovation or alteration of the home requires the landlord’s written consent (art. 260a CO) [6].

In Geneva

In residential buildings located in a building zone, the LDTR requires authorisation for any conversion or renovation, i.e. any restoration, even partial, that improves comfort; routine maintenance is not concerned and single-dwelling houses are excluded [7]. After the work, rents may be controlled by the State for 3 years, or even 5 years in the case of a major conversion [7]. These applications go through the fast-track authorisation procedure (APA), decided in less than 30 days in most apartment renovation cases [8]. Independently of the LDTR, changing the interior layout (moving a partition wall, for example) requires a building permit under the LCI, except for interior work in a villa that does not change the living area [9].

In the canton of Vaud

In districts with a housing shortage, the LPPPL requires authorisation for the demolition, conversion and major renovation of rented homes; tenants must be informed at least 40 days before the application is submitted [10]. A simplified procedure (exemption) is possible if the work does not change the layout type and costs less than 20% of the building’s ECA new-build value, but the application remains mandatory [10]. As for building permits, an administrative authorisation is required for conversion or refurbishment work; the municipality decides on the procedure, and an exemption from public consultation does not mean exemption from the permit [11].

Our tips

  1. Insist on a quote detailed item by item, not a lump sum [4].
  2. Set aside a contingency of 10 to 20% for unforeseen costs [3].
  3. Combine the kitchen and bathroom into a single project so the tradespeople only need to be mobilised once [4].
  4. Have the building checked for asbestos before demolition in a building constructed before 1990 [3].
  5. Plan ahead for authorisations, especially for a rented home in Geneva or in a Vaud district with a housing shortage.

Our trades for your renovation: painting and plastering, tiling, parquet flooring, bathrooms, masonry and cleaning.

FAQ

How much does a complete renovation of an 80 m² apartment cost?

Around CHF 100’000 to 180’000 incl. VAT for a 3.5-room apartment of 80 to 90 m² outside Geneva [2]; in Geneva, CHF 96’000 to 144’000 for 80 m² according to Béon Rénovation [5].

What budget for a partial renovation?

CHF 25’000 to 55’000 incl. VAT for a bathroom or kitchen with painting and new floors [2].

Do you need a permit to renovate an apartment?

It depends on the work and the canton: in Geneva, the LDTR for rented homes [7] and the LCI for any change to the layout [9]; in the canton of Vaud, check with the municipality, which decides on the procedure [11].

How long does the work take?

SOS-Travaux.ch’s typical schedule for a complete renovation spans around 12 weeks [2], not including authorisations.

Do the prices include VAT?

Not always. On CHF 100’000 excl. VAT, VAT at 8.1% represents CHF 8’100: always compare the totals including VAT [1].

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Sources

Pages consulted on 17 October 2026.

  1. Swiss Federal Tax Administration, “Taux de la TVA suisse” (French version): https://www.estv.admin.ch/fr/taux-de-la-tva-suisse
  2. SOS-Travaux.ch, “Prix rénovation appartement en Suisse : budget par poste” (in French, updated in March 2026): https://www.sos-travaux.ch/conseils/prix-renovation-appartement/
  3. Offrendo, “Transformation et rénovation : prix au m² et budget 2026” (in French, prices incl. VAT): https://offrendo.ch/fr/guide/prix-renovation
  4. La Boîte de Travaux, “Combien coûte une rénovation d’appartement en Suisse en 2026 ?” (in French): https://laboitedetravaux.ch/revue/cout-renovation-appartement-suisse
  5. Béon Rénovation, “Prix de rénovation à Genève : tarifs au m² 2026” (in French): https://www.beon-renovation.ch/tarifs
  6. Swiss Code of Obligations, art. 260a (Fedlex, French version): https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/27/317_321_377/fr#art_260_a
  7. Republic and Canton of Geneva, LDTR (rsGE L 5 20), arts. 2, 3, 9 and 12 (in French): https://silgeneve.ch/legis/data/rsg_l5_20.htm
  8. ge.ch, “Rénovation des logements : amélioration du processus LDTR” (in French): https://www.ge.ch/document/renovation-logements-amelioration-du-processus-ldtr
  9. Republic and Canton of Geneva, LCI (rsGE L 5 05), art. 1 (in French): https://silgeneve.ch/legis/data/rsg_l5_05.htm
  10. State of Vaud, “Démolition, transformation ou rénovation d’importance d’un logement loué” (LPPPL, in French): https://www.vd.ch/territoire-et-construction/logement/preservation/demolition/transformation/renovation
  11. State of Vaud, “Rôle de la commune dans la procédure de demandes de permis de construire” (in French): https://www.vd.ch/territoire-et-construction/permis-de-construire/role-de-la-commune-1-1

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