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

Trendingnow

1

I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing

2

A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect

3

Current price of oil as of June 1, 2026

1

I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing

2

A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect

3

Current price of oil as of June 1, 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

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

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

Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, makes his way to a morning session at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 13, 2023 in Sun Valley, Idaho
InvestingWarren Buffett
Buffett says Abel ‘has launched’ with his first big Berkshire deal: an $8.5 billion housing bet
By Eva RoytburgJune 1, 2026
3 hours ago
Property prices are down in Dubai. Is it a war-induced blip, or something more serious?  
Middle EastDubai
Property prices are down in Dubai. Is it a war-induced blip, or something more serious?  
By Melissa HancockJune 1, 2026
6 hours ago
Mortgage rates today, June 1, 2026
Personal Financemortgages
Mortgage rates today, June 1, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 1, 2026
15 hours ago
Current refi mortgage rates report for June 1, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current refi mortgage rates report for June 1, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 1, 2026
15 hours ago
Current ARM mortgage rates report for June 1, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current ARM mortgage rates report for June 1, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 1, 2026
15 hours ago
Berkshire Hathaway to buy Taylor Morrison for $6.8 billion
Real Estatehome builders
Berkshire Hathaway to buy Taylor Morrison for $6.8 billion
By Paige Smith, Alexandre Rajbhandari and BloombergMay 31, 2026
23 hours ago

Most Popular

I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing
Personal Finance
I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing
By Nick LichtenbergMay 31, 2026
1 day ago
A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect
Environment
A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect
By Brian K. Sullivan and BloombergMay 31, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of June 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 1, 2026
10 hours ago
The Iran conflict has disrupted oil supply. Gulf states are now looking to multi-billion-dollar investments in renewables 
Energy
The Iran conflict has disrupted oil supply. Gulf states are now looking to multi-billion-dollar investments in renewables 
By Melissa HancockJune 1, 2026
8 hours ago
If Elon Musk merges SpaceX with Tesla he'll create a $3.4 trillion behemoth—with zero profits
Investing
If Elon Musk merges SpaceX with Tesla he'll create a $3.4 trillion behemoth—with zero profits
By Shawn TullyMay 31, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 1, 2026
10 hours 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.