Hong Kong Tops, Cairo Trails in Global Real Estate Prices According to Deutsche Bank”s 2026 Report
The "Mapping the World's Prices 2026" report by Deutsche Bank Research reveals a staggering disparity in global housing markets across 69 cities, with the price per square meter in the most expensive city exceeding the most affordable by over 30 times.
Global Extremes: The Most and Least Expensive Cities (2026)
CategoryCityPrice per Square Meter (€)
Most ExpensiveHong Kong23,790
Zurich22,910
Seoul21,897
Most AffordableCairo784
Johannesburg913
Note: Cairo and Johannesburg are the only two cities in the 69-city index where the price per square meter falls below the €1,000 mark.
The European Real Estate Landscape
Swiss and British cities dominate the upper echelon of Europe's property market, while cities like Istanbul and even Brussels (the EU capital) offer significantly lower entry points. For context, purchasing an 80-square-meter apartment in London costs approximately 35% more than in Paris.
CategoryCityPrice per Sqm (€)Estimated Cost for an 80 sqm Apartment
Top 5 Most ExpensiveZurich22,910€1,833,000
Geneva19,439€1,555,000
London17,241€1,379,000
Paris12,771-
Vienna12,483-
Most AffordableIstanbul2,646-
Athens3,442-
Brussels4,380-
Birmingham4,671-
Budapest5,243-
Warsaw5,443-
Edinburgh5,708-