Accommodation in Fribourg
Fribourg, located between the Western and the German-speaking parts of the country, is one of the most pleasant Swiss cities to live in. A small, but highly-developed city of 38,413 inhabitants, Fribourg has still been attracting large numbers of expats seeking professional experience. Being the Swiss city with the youngest median age of inhabitants, Fribourg offers a contemporary (and multilingual) way of life.
How to find accommodation in Fribourg
Fribourg offers a wide variety of accommodation for all tastes and all budgets: you will not have trouble finding the one that better suits your needs. If you are already in the region, you can wander around its neighbourhoods to better identify the different types of housing available. You will find studios, apartments and rooms. Houses for rent are quite rare in Fribourg, with the exception of some houses that can be found in the Guintzet area. If you're interested in renting a house, you will probably have more luck outside the city, in places like Marly or Villars-sur-Glâne, or in the neighbouring villages of Rossens, Posieux, and Noréaz. However, room sharing offers are numerous. You are likely to find furnished and unfurnished housing in Fribourg. Apartments often have a terrace and some housing appliances.
Although finding an apartment in Fribourg won't be as difficult as in other Swiss cities, you should still start your search accommodation on the internet before arriving in Switzerland, to be on the safe side. You can start by browsing real estate websites and databases like Homegate and ImmoScout24. You can also check out classified ads in local newspapers, some of which are also available online. A real estate agency or a relocation agency can also help you find the most suitable accommodation according to your family situation and your budget.
Rent prices
Rental prices in Fribourg are noticeably more affordable than in most major Swiss cities. Namely, renting an apartment in Fribourg is cheaper than in Geneva, Zurich or Basel ' and has taxes and compulsory insurances involved in the process than in Bern. In fact, although in the last few years the demand has risen, the prices haven't gone dramatically up like in other Swiss cities like Geneva.
To rent a small one or two-room apartment, you should expect to pay up to 1,300 CHF (â¬1,118) in the city centre and around 1,600-2,144 CHF (â¬1,376-â¬1,844) for two- or three-room apartments in the city centre. Of course, even within the city centre prices will vary according to the neighbourhood and the apartment's amenities. You should also note that, in Fribourg's rental market, the number of rooms mentioned in an apartment does not include the kitchen or the bathroom.
Districts & neighbourhoods in Fribourg
Fribourg is divided into nine districts; Beauregard, Le Bourg, Jura, Perolles, Neuveville, L'Auge, Schöenberg, Les Places, and Bourguillon. These districts are in turn divided into several smaller towns.
One of Fribourg's most popular towns is Marly. Villas-sur-Glane and the Old Town are also considered desirable areas, because of their quality of life and location. Posieux, Rossens, Noreaz and Guintez are appreciated for their infrastructure and services available, as well as their housing offers. Gare, the area close to the station, could be an option if you wish to find cheaper accommodation, but it can also be noisier. Same goes for Schönberg (or Schoenberg): it is a cheaper residential area, but not very safe ' at least by Swiss standards.
Useful links:
