Switzerland
Cost to buy a home calculator
The deposit is rarely the only cash a home purchase demands. This adds up the rest: the transfer tax or stamp duty, notary or legal fees, any estate agent fee, and shows the total money you need to find up front. Enter the property price and your deposit as a percentage, then check the fee rates, which start at typical figures for your country and can be edited. The result is a realistic picture of the cash needed on completion day, useful for budgeting before you make an offer or comparing the true cost across regions.
| Deposit | CHF 30'000 |
| Transfer tax | CHF 15'000 |
| Notary and legal | CHF 4'500 |
| Cash needed up front | CHF 49'500 |
Typical estimate. Adjust the rates for your region. Estimate only; confirm rates for your exact location.
How it works
- Enter the property price and your deposit as a percentage of it.
- Review the fee rates. They open at typical values for your country, so adjust them for your region, purchase type or first-time status.
- Each percentage-based fee is applied to the property price to give a money amount.
- The buying costs are added together, then the deposit is added on top to show the total cash required.
cash needed = deposit + (transfer tax + legal fee + agent fee), each a percent of price
The deposit is your chosen percentage of the property price. Each buying cost, the transfer tax or stamp duty, the notary or legal fee and any estate agent fee, is worked out as its own percentage of the price and turned into a money amount. Adding those costs together gives the fees, and adding the deposit on top gives the total cash you must produce on completion day.
- deposit
- your share of the price paid in cash
- transfer tax
- stamp duty or land transfer tax
- legal fee
- notary or solicitor cost
Typical upfront cost rates
| Transfer tax or stamp duty | 0 to 10% | depends heavily on country and price |
| Notary or legal fees | 1 to 2% | of the property price |
| Estate agent fee, buyer side | 0 to 3% | often nil for the buyer in the UK |
| Minimum deposit | 5 to 10% | more usually means a better mortgage rate |
Worked example
A 300,000 home with a 10 percent deposit: the deposit alone is 30,000. On top, the tool adds the transfer tax, legal costs and any agent fee, so the cash needed on completion is typically well above the deposit, often several thousand more depending on local rates.
Key facts
- The deposit becomes your equity in the home, but you still have to find it in cash on the day.
- Transfer taxes are the largest variable, swinging the total far more than legal or agent fees.
- Most buying costs are a percentage of price, so they scale up with a more expensive home.
- First-time-buyer reliefs and new-build rules can cut the transfer tax in many countries.
Tips
- Edit the default rates to match your region, purchase type and first-time status before trusting the total.
- Add mortgage arrangement fees, a survey and removals yourself, since the defaults leave them out.
- Keep a cash buffer beyond the figure shown for the odd cost that lands after completion.
- Compare the all-in cash needed across regions, as transfer taxes alone can differ by thousands.
Cash needed at 10% deposit and 7.5% fees
| Property price | Deposit | Buying costs | Total cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200,000 | 20,000 | 15,000 | 35,000 |
| 300,000 | 30,000 | 22,500 | 52,500 |
| 400,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 | 70,000 |
| 500,000 | 50,000 | 37,500 | 87,500 |
Frequently asked questions
Why are the rates only described as typical?+
Transfer taxes and fees vary within most countries: by region, by whether the property is new-build or resale, and by first-time-buyer status. The defaults are a reasonable middle, so edit them to fit your exact situation.
Is the deposit a cost?+
Not strictly, since the deposit becomes your equity in the home rather than money spent. But you still have to produce it in cash on the day, so the total here adds it to the buying costs to show the real outlay.
Are mortgage and survey fees included?+
Only if you add them. The defaults focus on transfer tax, legal and agent fees. Mortgage arrangement fees, surveys and removals vary widely, so include them yourself for a complete budget.
Does it cover ongoing costs after purchase?+
No, it is an upfront figure. Monthly mortgage payments, insurance, maintenance and local property taxes are separate running costs and fall outside this one-off calculation.
Things to watch
- This is general information, not financial advice.
- The rates are typical middles that vary by region and purchase type; confirm exact figures with your notary, solicitor or tax authority.
- It covers upfront costs only, not mortgage fees, surveys or the ongoing cost of owning the home.
Last updated: 2026
This is an estimate for general guidance, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Figures can change and individual circumstances vary. Always confirm with the official sources listed before making decisions.
- This is general information, not financial advice.
- Typical estimates that vary by region and purchase type; confirm exact rates with your notary, solicitor or tax authority.
- Covers upfront buying costs, not mortgage fees, surveys or ongoing ownership costs.
Reviewed by Vikas Dulgunde.