How can travellers keep Switzerland costs under control?
You do not make Switzerland cheap; you make it less wasteful. Stay longer in fewer bases, use supermarkets and apartments where sensible, check passes properly and avoid paying premium prices for rushed mountain days with bad visibility.
Answer
The easiest way to overspend in Switzerland is not one dramatic mistake. It is the daily leak: a poor base that forces extra train rides, restaurant meals chosen because you are tired near a station, mountain tickets bought on cloudy mornings and hotel changes that turn every day into a luggage problem. Cost control starts with route control. Fewer bases can mean fewer transfers, better use of rail products and more relaxed food choices. Apartment-style stays can help, especially for families or longer visits, but they only work if the location still serves the route. Switzerland rewards planning that is boring, early and honest about what you will actually do.