Top Global Cities with Unaffordable Housing

Housing affordability is a critical factor in market activity, with several global cities exhibiting significantly high price-to-income ratios and property costs.

The top 3

1. Cities with the Highest House Price-to-Income Ratios: Hong Kong leads globally with a house price-to-income ratio of 14.4, followed by Sydney (13.8) and San Jose (12.1), indicating extreme unaffordability where average homes cost over 10 times the average annual household income.
2. Cities with the Highest Average Property Prices per Square Meter: Monaco remains the world's most expensive residential property market, with an average price of around €57,569 per square meter in 2026, followed by Hong Kong and New York.
3. Countries with Highest Percentage of Income Spent on Housing: Renters in Spain allocate the highest median share of income to housing at 36.7%, followed by Belgium (35.0%) and the UK (34.8%).

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