The key point: According to Wüest Partner, quoted by 24 heures on 31 October 2026, high rents are pushing Geneva residents towards Vaud.
An exodus to neighbouring cantons
- Internal migration balance : Geneva, Zurich and Basel are now losing residents to other cantons.
- Cascade effect : Geneva residents move to the canton of Vaud, and Vaud residents leave for Fribourg or Valais.
- Two causes : remote working started the trend, and the urban housing shortage reinforced it.
Persistent pressure on the property market
- International immigration : arrivals from abroad more than offset departures from Geneva.
- Host cantons : the influx of new residents is pushing up rents and prices there.
Key figures
- 1,400 residents : annual departures from Geneva to the rest of Switzerland.
- 910 francs : average monthly rent difference for 100 m² between Geneva and Vaud.
- 10,300 arrivals : Geneva's annual net migration from abroad.
- 3,500 residents : Zurich's annual net loss to other cantons.
In short
Households are leaving the major centres for more affordable rents. This movement does not ease the Geneva market, which is supported by immigration. It makes housing more expensive in the host cantons.
