From the most sought-after blocks of New York City to the elite enclaves of London, Paris and Munich, the world’s most expensive residential neighbourhoods are brimming with luxury, exclusivity and sky-high house prices. These prestigious addresses are the ultimate status symbol, attracting celebrity residents and billionaire buyers.
Click or scroll on to explore the most opulent neighbourhoods that only the wealthiest can call home...
It's no surprise that real estate in the Big Apple comes at a premium. But in Hudson Yards, New York City's newest neighbourhood, property prices have reached new heights.
The former industrial area in Midtown Manhattan has been overhauled in recent years in one of the largest private real estate projects in American history. The result is an exclusive enclave bustling with restaurants, art galleries, stylish new homes and green spaces.
The cost to become a resident in this new hub is steep. The median sale price for homes in 2025 is just under $5.4 million (£4m) according to real estate database PropertyShark, making it the most expensive neighbourhood in the city.
A stone's throw from the heart of Hudson Yards is 520 West 28th (pictured here), an upscale condominium building designed by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. The lavish complex offers residents an IMAX movie theatre, a fitness centre and an expansive spa.
The roots of London's Mayfair date back to the 17th century, when 500 acres (202ha) of rural land were purchased by an heiress. Today, the district is far from agricultural, featuring beautiful Georgian architecture, boutique shops, high-end restaurants and the most expensive homes in London.
A-list residents over the years have included musician Jimi Hendrix, musical theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber and silver-screen icon Vivien Leigh. In fact, Queen Elizabeth II was even born in the prestigious neighbourhood.
While the majority of homes sold in Mayfair over the past few years have been apartments, their price tags have certainly not been modest. Over the 12 months before June 2025, the average house price in Mayfair was £3.4 million ($4.6m), with apartments alone commanding £3.2 million ($4.3m), according to property search platform Rightmove.
Meanwhile, for those with deeper pockets, the average cost of a terraced property was just under £8.3 million ($11.2m). It's clear to see why only London's wealthiest can afford to live here.
Situated on the banks of the Seine, Paris's affluent 6th arrondissement is steeped in culture, from art galleries and architectural marvels to exquisite parks such as the Luxembourg Gardens.
The area is considered a haven for artists and intellectuals, with 20th-century philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir having resided here.
However, somewhat at odds with its bohemian reputation, the neighbourhood's housing costs are now the most expensive in Paris.
While fledgling artists may struggle to find accommodation in the 6th arrondissement, billionaire buyers certainly won't. Research from data platform Statista puts the average price of residential real estate in 2025 at €1,338 ($1.5k/£1.1k) per square foot, the equivalent of €14,400 ($16.6k/£12.3k) per square metre.
This ornate apartment block houses some of the 6th arrondissement's luxury homes. It's an example of Haussmannian architecture, named after the 19th-century baron that Napoleon III appointed to modernise Paris.
A waterfront community on the Gulf of Mexico, Port Royal in Naples, Florida, is among the most expensive neighbourhoods in America. The enclave was developed in 1959 and is now home to rows of custom-built mansions overlooking the ocean.
High-profile names who've made Port Royal their home over the years include Dave Wannstedt, the former head coach of American football teams the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears, and Richard Schulze, the founder of multinational electronics company Best Buy.
Many of the homes in Port Royal span at least 5,000 square feet (465sqm) and feature direct access to the water. Meanwhile, the nearby Port Royal Club offers a residents-only beach, as well as a swimming pool, spa and tennis courts.
But living in this waterfront paradise comes with a hefty price tag. Statistics from real estate search platform Zillow put the typical home value at a staggering $15.3 million (£11.3m) in 2025.
Now one of Munich's most affluent districts, Bogenhausen began life as a farming village before being incorporated into the German city at the end of the 19th century. The neighbourhood, which borders the Isar river, is known for its lush green spaces and beautiful Art Nouveau villas, which attract Munich's most moneyed residents.
Prominent historic figures, including German novelist Thomas Mann and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Wilhelm Röntgen, spent swathes of their lives in this leafy, upscale enclave.
Pictured here is one of the district's beautiful Art Nouveau mansions, complete with quaint green shutters and a balcony.
Bogenhausen's enduring grandeur has made it one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in Germany. In fact, according to property portal Immowelt, nine of the country's 10 most expensive streets are located in Bogenhausen.
In March 2025, realtor Engel & Völkers put house prices in the area at €981 ($1.1k/£837) per square foot, or €10,560 ($12.2k/£9k) per square metre.
Spain's most expensive neighbourhood, Recoletos in Madrid, has been a favourite among the wealthy since the city's modernised plan was drawn up in the 19th century.
The prestigious enclave in the Salamanca district is defined by its elegant architecture, boutique shops, tree-lined boulevards and proximity to Madrid's landmarks, including the picturesque El Retiro Park and the Plaza de Colón.
Apartments, duplexes and penthouses are the most common property types in the area.
Captured here is Calle Pedro Muñoz Seca, a small residential street named after a Spanish playwright. It's the location of some of the city's most luxurious apartments, all with seven-figure price tags.
It's a similar story across the neighbourhood. Property portal Fotocasa published a 2025 study that revealed the average price of a home in Recoletos is €989 ($1.1k/£844) per square foot, which equates to €10,650 ($12.3k/£9.1k) per square metre.
The Bridle Path in Toronto is widely considered Canada's most affluent neighbourhood. Originally farmland, its name comes from the historic network of bridle paths that once accommodated residents' horses.
In the mid-1900s, a businessman took over the land and built a large mansion. Restrictions were put in place limiting construction to single-family homes on a minimum of two acres (0.8ha), establishing it as an enclave of the super-rich.
Over the years, the neighbourhood's residents have included megastar musicians such as Drake, Celine Dion and Prince.
Bordered by the picturesque Don River Valley, the opulent community features numerous gated mansions like this property, which has Grecian-style columns and a grand portico entrance.
House prices on the Bridle Path are among the most expensive in Canada. Real estate search platform ViewHomes estimated that the median listing price for homes in the neighbourhood was CA$7.9 million ($5.8m/£4.3m) in April 2025.
Elevated above Sydney in the city's eastern suburbs, Bellevue Hill was once the ancestral land of the Cadigal people. After it was colonised by Europeans, the acreage fell into the hands of a wealthy British businessman. Large plots were discerningly sold off in the 19th century, and the prestigious community we see today was gradually established.
Bellevue Hill has historically been the home of business tycoons, including the Murdoch and Packer dynasties, as well as former Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon and his wife, Lady McMahon.
This regal home, known as Fairfax House or Ginahgulla, is a landmark of Bellevue Hill. The Gothic mansion was built in the 1850s by John Fairfax, media mogul and former owner of The Sydney Morning Herald.
The neighbourhood is just as desirable among Sydney's richest today, resulting in an extremely competitive housing market. According to the property search website Domain, Bellevue Hill is Australia's most expensive suburb. The median price of homes in the sought-after neighbourhood was AU$8.5 million ($5.5m/£4.1m) in December 2024.
A favourite neighbourhood among Rio de Janeiro's wealthiest families and business magnates, Leblon is an exclusive community perched on the city's waterfront. The enclave features a plethora of high-end eateries, designer shops and private schools, and is close to golf courses, yacht clubs and marinas.
Over the years, famous residents have included former Brazilian football player Ronaldo Nazario, telenovela actress Betty Faria and former Miss Brazil Vera Fischer.
According to financial publication The Latinvestor, which collates real estate data from experts and industry reports, Leblon is the most expensive neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. Prices per square foot for residential property reach a maximum of R$2,322 ($422/£313), or R$25,000 ($4.5k/£3.4k) per square metre.
Single-family houses are rare in the space-starved suburb. Many of the neighbourhood's most costly properties are penthouses, which offer rooftop terraces and, in some cases, swimming pools.
Switzerland is home to one of the world's most expensive housing markets. On the list is the scenic Geneva suburb of Cologny, where you'll find some of the nation's highest property prices.
Home to around 6,000 people, the lakefront district features a hillside of tree-lined streets and private villas. The neighbourhood's seclusion has long attracted the rich and famous, including tennis player Henri Leconte, banking mogul Benjamin de Rothschild and the heirs to the Chanel and Peugeot fortunes.
Pictured here is one of Cologny's landmarks, Villa Diodati, a historic home that draws literary fans from around the world. English poet Lord Byron rented out the estate in 1816, and it was here that fellow writer Mary Shelley wrote the first draft of Frankenstein.
A haunt of the upper echelons for centuries, real estate prices in Cologny reflect its illustrious history. According to property aggregate RealAdvisor, the median asking price for houses as of 2025 is a steep CHF5.5 million ($6.7m/£5m).
Floating above the bustling city of Hong Kong, where space comes at a premium, The Peak is the area's most affluent neighbourhood. The elevated suburb benefits from breathtaking views across Victoria Harbour and the South China Sea, peaceful woodlands and comparatively larger living spaces than the centre.
The Peak's prestige was cemented in 1868, when the British governor at the time built a summer home here. Over the decades, residents have included the late billionaire Lee Shau-Kee and Jack Ma, the co-founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba.
According to data compiled by luxury Hong Kong brokerage Midland Realty, homes on The Peak commanded an average of HK$38,741 ($4.8k/£3.7k) per square foot in May 2025, which is around HK$417,000 ($53k/£39.5k) per square metre.
Residential property ranges from luxury condos to rare standalone homes, like this beautiful villa sequestered in the trees. Most homes feature 24-hour, military-grade security, concierge services and private swimming pools.
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