A new report from the Deutsche Bank Research Institute ranks European cities by the cost per square metre for city-centre apartments in 2026.
Key facts
- •Zurich is the most expensive European city for property, costing €22,910 per square metre.
- •London city-centre apartments are approximately 35% more expensive than those in Paris.
- •Only four of the 28 European cities surveyed have an average price exceeding €1 million for an 80-square-metre apartment.
- •The average price per square metre across all 28 European cities in the report is €9,090.
- •Istanbul, Athens, and Brussels are the three least expensive European cities on the list.
The "Mapping the World’s Prices 2026" report by the Deutsche Bank Research Institute identifies the most expensive European cities for purchasing city-centre real estate. Based on data from Numbeo and Deutsche Bank, the report analyzes 28 European cities among 69 global locations. Switzerland leads the rankings, with Zurich and Geneva emerging as the most expensive cities for property buyers in Europe.
By the numbers
Top Ranked European Cities
Zurich holds the highest price per square metre in Europe at €22,910, followed by Geneva at €19,439. An 80-square-metre apartment in these cities costs approximately €1,833,000 and €1,555,000, respectively. London ranks third at €17,241 per square metre, while Paris and Vienna round out the top five with prices of €12,771 and €12,483 per square metre.
Regional Price Variations
The report highlights significant price differences across the continent. Munich is Germany's most expensive city at €11,435 per square metre, while cities like Luxembourg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo also feature in the top 10. Conversely, Istanbul is the cheapest European city on the list at €2,646 per square metre, followed by Athens at €3,442 and Brussels at €4,380.
Market Averages and Global Context
The simple average price across the 28 European cities surveyed is €9,090 per square metre. Globally, Hong Kong ranks as the most expensive city at €23,790 per square metre, followed by Zurich and Seoul. The report's figures were converted into euros using European Central Bank average exchange rates from the first half of 2026.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Euronews Business.
