Charging children that live at home: tips and table
My child still lives at home, but they earn money. Can I ask them for board in that case? Comparis explains – including a board contribution calculation table.
19.03.2026
iStock/Georgijevic
1. Board and lodging at home: can I ask my child to contribute?
As a rule, if your child earns money through work, they are free to decide what to do with it (Art. 323 Abs. 1 CC). However, the Swiss Civil Code also states that you can request an appropriate contribution towards maintenance (Art. 323 Abs. 2).
Parental maintenance obligation in Switzerland
In Switzerland, parents have a maintenance obligation for minor children have a maintenance obligation (Art. 277 para. 1 CC). This also applies to adult children, who have not yet completed any education or training (Art. 277 para. 2 CC). The maintenance obligation includes:
Care
Upbringing
Cash benefits
However: If your child earns money, you are partially exempt from the maintenance obligation (Art. 276 CC).
2. Why should my child pay board money?
By paying board money, your child learns that they do not always have their full earnings at their disposal. They become more aware of household expenses. Contributing financially to the household also prepares your child for independent living and for taking on their own financial responsibilities.
Discuss the subject of board money early on. Explain openly what costs the household incurs. This will help your child understand why it makes sense to contribute to household expenses.
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3. How much board is appropriate for an adult, and how much for minors?
The amount of the board payment is individual.Discuss it with your child. Experts often recommend 10% to 20% of their salary. How much board you charge depends, for example, on:
The amount of your child’s income
The costs, that your child already pays themself
Your monthly expenses
Your financial situation
For example, you can use the room-and-board reference values provided by Budgetberatung Schweiz (not available in English).
Board payments for adult and minor children: table for Switzerland
The table shows an example, of how you can calculate the board payment. However, depending on the situation, different limits may be appropriate.
Good to know: a higher salary does not necessarily mean that you should ask your child for more money. Instead, your child can cover some expenses themselves. For example, if your child has a higher salary, it makes sense for them to pay their own health insurance premiums.
The following table shows you examples of the amount of board money, graded according to the child’s salary.
| Monthly salary | Board fee paid per month | Expenses paid by the child (example) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 500 francs | None | Public transport, clothes, mobile plan |
| 500 to 1,000 francs |
|
Additionally: health insurance |
| 1,000 to 1,500 francs |
|
Additionally: hobbies, excursions, ophthalmologist, dentist |
4. How long do adult children stay living with their parents?
According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) most young people leave their parents’ home between the ages of 20 and 30. The following factors influence when they do so:
Gender: women generally move out earlier than men.
Year of birth: older age groups tend to leave their parental home earlier than younger ones.
Nationality: people from countries neighbouring Switzerland move out of their parents’ home earlier than people with Swiss or any other nationality.
Place of residence: people from Italian-speaking Switzerland live with their parents for longer than people from German- and French-speaking Switzerland.
Approximately 50% of all young adults aged 23–24 already live in their own home.
5. Sharing household money: how to avoid arguments
To avoid arguments, you should always communicate openly. Start talking to your child about money from an early age. This will help them develop an understanding of finance.
Discuss the amount of their board and lodging together with your child. If you have more than one child with different incomes, work out a solution together as well. Keep a written record of all agreements.
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6. FAQs about children’s board payments
How much board parents can charge is dependent on a variety of factors. According to the Swiss Civil Code, the amount must be «appropriate» (Art. 323 para. 2). As a guideline, experts suggest 10% to 20% of the salary.
Budgetberatung Schweiz Budgetberatung Schweiz (Swiss Budget Advice Service) provides various examples of how much board to charge. You can use these as a guide.
Under the law, parents can request a reasonable amount for board and lodging (Art. 323 para. 2 CC).
Whether and how much board children pay is something that parents and children must agree on together. In doing so, you can also agree that the child will pay for some expenses themselves, such as their mobile plan mobile plan and the health insurance premiums..
You can ask your child, who lives in the same household as you, for a board payment – and this can cover a portion of the rent. However, the amount must be reasonable (Art. 323 Abs. 2 CC). As a guideline, experts recommend around 10% to 20% of the child’s salary.
Professionals recommend that children hand over around 10% to 20% of their salary. However, the exact amount depends on a variety of factors. These include, for example, the child’s salary and how much of their own expenses they pay.
Budget Counselling Switzerland Budgetberatung Schweiz (Swiss Budget Advice Service) provides examples of the amount of board payments. You can use these as a guide when discussing the amount.
This article was first published on 20.06.2017
