• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'

2

Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026

3

Current price of silver as of Monday, June 22, 2026

1

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'

2

Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026

3

Current price of silver as of Monday, June 22, 2026
Real EstateHousing

Who Knew This City Had Some of the World’s Most Unaffordable Housing?

By
Joseph Hincks
Joseph Hincks
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Joseph Hincks
Joseph Hincks
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 18, 2017, 3:20 AM ET
Wider Image: Renting in Mumbai Per Square Foot
A resident sits on a balcony of an apartment in Mumbai March 15, 2015. Danish Siddiqui—Reuters
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Move over grumbling Londoners and kvetching New Yorkers, the four major cities with the world’s most unaffordable housing are now all in Asia.

A price-to-income ratio study undertaken by quantitative analysis firm Oxford Economics has determined that house prices in Hong Kong, Mumbai, Beijing, and Shanghai all surpass London’s—relative to the median income of each city’s inhabitants. New York City is far more reasonable, at number nine, Bloomberg reports.

This means it now takes more than 30 years for an average earner to buy a 970-sq-ft apartment in any one of Asia’s tightest housing markets.

In the most unaffordable, Hong Kong’s, a Lilliputian 128-sq-ft unit will set you back an average of almost $400,000 TIME’s Kevin Lui reported in December. That’s about 17 times a Hongkonger’s median annual wage.

But in the city whose apartments one ousted lawmaker famously described as being too small for sex, at least there’s bang for the buck. Even tiny capsule pods in Hong Kong command $644 in rent month according to Lui.

By contrast, those who shell out for investment properties in Mumbai, Beijing, Shanghai, and Delhi (the 11th most unaffordable) can expect “remarkably low” rental returns, Business Economics found, suggesting that valuations in those cities were “stretched.”

For more on real estate markets, watch Fortune’s video:

The report forecast that factors such as increased housing supply and changes to interest rates would likely exert downward pressure on some of the most spiked markets in future. For now though, the first rung of the property ladder remains way out of reach for many first time buyers—especially in Asia.

About the Author
By Joseph Hincks
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Real Estate

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Real Estate

Mortgage rates today, June 23, 2026
Personal Financemortgages
Mortgage rates today, June 23, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 23, 2026
1 hour ago
Current refi mortgage rates report for June 23, 2026
Personal Financemortgage rates
Current refi mortgage rates report for June 23, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 23, 2026
1 hour ago
Current ARM mortgage rates report for June 23, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current ARM mortgage rates report for June 23, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 23, 2026
1 hour ago
Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they’re copying the California design tricks they once mocked
Real EstateHousing
Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they’re copying the California design tricks they once mocked
By Sydney LakeJune 22, 2026
17 hours ago
Reassuring dad sits with frustrated adult son
SuccessCost of living
A record 1 in 3 Gen Z and young millennials were still living with their parents in 2025—more than during the pandemic—despite most having a job
By Emma BurleighJune 22, 2026
17 hours ago
Current refi mortgage rates report for June 19, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current refi mortgage rates report for June 19, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 19, 2026
4 days ago

Most Popular

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
Success
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
By Sydney LakeJune 21, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 22, 2026
19 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 22, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 22, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 22, 2026
19 hours ago
NBC’s Tom Llamas climbed from 15-year-old intern to the top anchor chair—and still isn’t satisfied: ‘If you're not growing, you're dying'
Success
NBC’s Tom Llamas climbed from 15-year-old intern to the top anchor chair—and still isn’t satisfied: ‘If you're not growing, you're dying'
By Preston ForeJune 21, 2026
2 days ago
The Fed is fed up with inflation and will bring down the hammer with a series of rate hikes this year, reversing earlier cuts, BofA says
Economy
The Fed is fed up with inflation and will bring down the hammer with a series of rate hikes this year, reversing earlier cuts, BofA says
By Jason MaJune 22, 2026
16 hours ago
The man who lived through the fall of the Soviet Union and helped wealthy Chinese move to Canada sees a familiar picture in America
Success
The man who lived through the fall of the Soviet Union and helped wealthy Chinese move to Canada sees a familiar picture in America
By Nick LichtenbergJune 17, 2026
6 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.