New Launch - India Real Estate Report 2026.
The cost of renting a place varies dramatically depending on where you live. Cities across the world have shown interesting trends in housing affordability, as rising demand, limited land availability, and changing economic conditions continue to reshape rental and property markets. The findings come from a recent report by the Deutsche Bank Research Institute, which analysed prices across 69 cities in six continents, sourced primarily from Numbeo's crowdsourced database.
How the Ranking Works
Among several indices in the report, the rankings compare rental prices in global cities based on the monthly rent for a three-bedroom apartment in the city centre. Four out of the ten most expensive rental cities are in the United States, while two are in Switzerland. Indian cities aren't even in the top 50.
- 1. New York, USA
- 2. Zurich, Switzerland
- 3. San Francisco, USA
- 4. Boston, USA
- 5. Singapore
- 6. Los Angeles, USA
- 7. Hong Kong
- 8. London, UK
- 9. Sydney, Australia
- 10. Geneva, Switzerland
New York tops the list as the most expensive city, with other American cities San Francisco, Boston and Los Angeles ranking third, fourth, and sixth respectively. Zurich in Switzerland ranks as the second most expensive, while Geneva rounds out the list at tenth. Singapore ranks fifth and Hong Kong seventh, while London and Sydney rank eighth and ninth.
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What About Indian Cities?
Mumbai secured the top position among Indian cities despite ranking 52nd globally. Bengaluru came second among Indian cities, ranking 67th globally, followed by Delhi at 68th. On cost per square metre to buy an apartment in the city centre, Mumbai ranks 44th, Delhi 65th, and Bengaluru 67th.
Hong Kong remains the world's most expensive property market despite prices remaining around 10% below pre-Covid levels. Seoul ranked third and is closing the gap as a technology boom drives demand in its limited-supply market. Zurich, Singapore and Geneva complete the top five. Even the most expensive Indian cities remain cheaper than their global counterparts in terms of both renting and purchasing accommodation.
Expense as a Measure of Quality of Life?
The report's broader data shows that housing costs are only one part of the cost-of-living equation, alongside salaries, purchasing power, transport, healthcare, safety, and pollution, all of which influence how affordable and liveable a city is. New York tops the global ranking for three-bedroom rents but ranks only 46th among 69 cities in the report's quality-of-life index. Zurich, by contrast, ranks among the world's most expensive rental markets but is ninth for quality of life. Geneva offers another example, ranking among the top 10 for both rental costs and quality of life, while Luxembourg ranks first for quality of life despite being among the world's most expensive cities overall.
The comparison shows that the absolute cost of renting a home cannot, by itself, determine how expensive or desirable a city is to live in.
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