Top 10 Most Expensive Cities to Buy Property in 2026

In 2026, the most expensive cities for buying prime residential property are led by Hong Kong, with Tokyo, Geneva, New York, London, Shanghai, Paris, Sydney, Singapore, and Seoul rounding out the top ten. According to Cobalt's analysis, these cities have been restructured by factors such as urban density, talent migration, and economic realignments.

The US$1 million investment in Hong Kong secures only 268 square feet, while in Seoul, it yields 578 square feet, which is more than double the space. Four cities that were in the top ten in 2019, including Vancouver, Shenzhen, Los Angeles, and Beijing, have fallen out of the top ten rankings. Corporate employers must adjust their relocation policies to account for the high housing costs in these cities, as they directly impact the expense of relocating executive talent.