Ranked: World’s Most Expensive Condo Markets in 2025
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Key Takeaways
- Five Swiss cities rank in the global top 10: Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, and Basel.
- Hong Kong tops the list at roughly $25,339 per square meter, followed by Zurich and Lausanne.
- Singapore (#4) and Seoul (#7) are Asia’s other major entries in the top 10.
- New York is the only U.S. city to appear, ranking #11.
Condo prices in the world’s top urban markets remain sky-high in 2025, reflecting the global trend toward urban density, luxury demand, and limited housing supply.
According to the latest cost-of-living data, the most expensive places to buy an apartment are clustered in a few high-income regions, most notably Switzerland and East Asia.
The data for this ranking comes from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global cost-of-living database. It compares average prices per square meter (in U.S. dollars) for apartments in city centers worldwide.
Hong Kong Remains the World’s Costliest Market
Hong Kong maintains its long-standing lead with condos averaging around $25,339 per square meter. Despite recent economic challenges, the city’s limited land, high population density, and enduring appeal as a financial hub continue to drive prices to extreme levels. Singapore, Asia’s other major real estate hotspot, ranks fourth with prices exceeding $22,000 per square meter.
| Rank | City | Price per Square Meter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Hong Kong (China) |
$25.3K |
| 2 |  Zurich, Switzerland |
$24.8K |
| 3 | Lausanne, Switzerland |
$22.9K |
| 4 |  Singapore, Singapore |
$22.5K |
| 5 | Bern, Switzerland |
$22.2K |
| 6 | Geneva, Switzerland |
$21.8K |
| 7 |  Seoul, South Korea |
$21.6K |
| 8 | Basel, Switzerland |
$20.9K |
| 9 |  Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel |
$19.8K |
| 10 |  London, United Kingdom |
$19.7K |
| 11 |  New York, U.S. |
$16.1K |
| 12 |  Shanghai, China |
$14.8K |
| 13 | Beijing, China |
$14.7K |
| 14 |  Taipei, Taiwan |
$14.4K |
| 15 |  Paris, France |
$13.7K |
| 16 |  Munich, Germany |
$13.1K |
| 17 | Shenzhen, China |
$12.3K |
| 18 |  Sydney, Australia |
$12.1K |
| 19 |  Luxembourg, Luxembourg |
$12.1K |
| 20 |  Stockholm, Sweden |
$11.8K |
Switzerland Dominates Europe’s High-End Housing
Switzerland stands out with five cities appearing in the global top 10. Zurich ranks second overall at $24,758 per square meter, while Lausanne and Bern follow closely behind.
These prices reflect Switzerland’s combination of financial stability, strong currency, and limited developable land in urban centers.
North America and Other Markets Lag Behind
Despite its reputation for high property costs, the United States makes only a single appearance in the top 20: New York City at #11. At $16,104 per square meter, it trails markets in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, cities like Tel Aviv, Munich, and Sydney remain high-value real estate markets in their respective regions. The lowest in the top 20, Stockholm, still averages more than $11,000 per square meter.
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