Around +12.4% from May 2016 to May 2026 in OCSTAT’s existing free-market rental series. This is neither a uniform increase for every tenant nor an advertised-rent index.
Ten years in the published index
OCSTAT table T 05.04.1.01 records 97.2 in May 2016 and 109.3 in May 2026 for existing free-market rentals, with May 2019 = 100. Our calculation, (109.3 ÷ 97.2 − 1) × 100, gives approximately +12.4%, using rounded indices.
This is nominal growth, before general inflation. The linked series covers 45 municipalities from 2019, previously 16; the table also flags a category change involving development-zone housing before 2022.
| May | Index |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 97.2 |
| 2019 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 102.7 |
| 2025 | 107.8 |
| 2026 | 109.3 |
Source: OCSTAT, table T 05.04.1.01. Rounded values.
What the indicator measures
OCSTAT surveys unfurnished rentals in buildings containing at least three homes. Rent excludes charges and garage rental; detached houses fall outside this scope.
An index measures change, not the price of an available apartment today. The canton is also different from the city alone, and existing housing is different from newly rented construction.
In 2026, a change of tenant matters
From May 2025 to May 2026, OCSTAT reports +1.3% for existing free-market rentals: +7.9% where the tenant changed and +0.7% without a change.
These are one-year figures for different groups. The 7.9% cannot be added to the ten-year result or multiplied by ten to reconstruct a decade.
Why a search can feel more expensive
People moving often compare available homes with their own previous rent. That personal benchmark helps with budgeting but does not replace a comparison between similar properties.
Our practical interpretation is to examine floor area, location, condition, charges and included services. Two adverts with the same room count can describe very different homes. The figures above provide context; they cannot establish whether a particular rent is justified.
Set a realistic housing budget
Decide on an overall monthly ceiling, then separate rent from other expenses. Allow for moving costs and unexpected spending. Build a shortlist of areas suited to your daily journeys instead of relying only on an average rent.
A clear application presents your circumstances coherently. It creates no priority entitlement and cannot guarantee allocation. Maison LBM offers application preparation separately; a home search with a commission at signing requires its own mandate.
Read the figures in context
This article covers May 2016 to May 2026 observations consulted on 18 October 2026. The intermediate values above come from the same table. Future publications may update the analysis.
Tribune de Genève has also covered ten years of rent increases. That article is offered as additional reading, separately from the official data used in our 2016–2026 calculation.
Sources and reference date
Sources consulted on 18 October 2026. Official procedures may change; check the page for your circumstances before taking action.
- OCSTAT — Tableau T 05.04.1.01, indices des loyers, mise à jour du 17 juin 2026 (Excel) ↗︎
- OCSTAT — Évolution des loyers en 2026, 17 juin 2026 ↗︎
- OCSTAT — Méthodologie de la statistique cantonale des loyers ↗︎
Additional reading in the local press
Tribune de Genève — Genève : 150 millions de francs de loyers en plus en dix ans, 10 mars 2025 (accès pouvant nécessiter un abonnement) ↗︎General information and practical suggestions. Individual administrative decisions, tenancy outcomes and legal assessments depend on the circumstances.
