Hong Kong is the world's least affordable housing market, with median home prices over 14–19 times the median household income. Other exceptionally unaffordable, high-cost, and supply-constrained areas include Sydney, Vancouver, San Jose, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and San Francisco.
Hong Kong: The World's Most Unaffordable Housing Market
This means the average home costs nearly seventeen times the median household income.
Yes, you can afford a house on $40k/year, but it heavily depends on your location, debts, and down payment, with general rules suggesting a $120k home (3x salary) or a max monthly payment around $1,000-$1,400 after other debts, often requiring you to look in lower-cost areas or utilize specific loan programs for low-income buyers to make it work.
Australia ranks 18th overall in Compare the Market's 2025 Cost of Living Index, with an Affordability Index score of 58.01. While it doesn't make the top tier of the cheapest countries to live in 2025, it remains a strong contender.
Hong Kong remains the world's least affordable housing market with a median multiple of 14.4, meaning typical homes cost more than 14 times the median household income. In terms of countries, Australia dominates the unaffordable rankings, with Sydney taking second place overall with a median multiple of 13.8.
Home prices have risen by nearly 50 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing housing affordability to historically low levels. The report from property research firm Cotality shows the costs of both buying and renting have climbed to levels beyond the reach of many Australians, with no respite in sight.
Here are some examples of places where you can volunteer in hostels:
There isn't a specific credit score you need for a mortgage, and that's because there isn't just one credit score. When you make an application for a mortgage or other type of credit, lenders work out a credit score for you.
Unlike Italy or America, South Africa gives away homes to its poorer citizens. South Africa has led the way in this endeavor, and will gives homes and proper housing to those citizens that qualify as underprivileged.
The "3-3-3 rule" in real estate isn't a single guideline but refers to different strategies: for buyers, it's about financial readiness (3 months savings, 3 months reserves, 3 property comparisons) or a financial affordability check (30% income, 30% down, 3x income); for agents, it's a marketing habit (call 3, note 3, share 3) or prospecting (talking to everyone within 3 feet). There's also a developer rule (1/3 land, 1/3 build, 1/3 profit), though it's considered outdated by some.
Yes, roughly 90% or more of households in China own their homes, making it one of the highest homeownership rates globally, driven by cultural emphasis on property as stability, significant housing reforms since the late 1990s, and high household savings, though this also leads to high prices and affordability issues for younger generations. While most own property, they hold long-term land-use rights (often 70 years), as the land itself remains state-owned.
Pitcairn Island, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, offers free land to those who decide to live there. Currently, the population is only 50 people and the only condition is that you build a house.
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No deposit required—which is a big deal, since buying a home for $1 is rarely the case in most places in Italy. Buying an Italian villa for $1 seems like a dream come true, but there are a few catches. Here's what you need to know before you buy.
Adelaide declared Australia's happiest city of 2025. Adelaide has been ranked Australia's happiest city in the global Happy City Index, scoring highly across 82 measures of liveability and wellbeing.
If this is your first home, you may have access to government schemes like the First Home Guarantee, which lets you put down a 5% deposit and avoid LMI. If you're looking at a house or unit that costs $200,000, that means you can buy a house with a $10,000 deposit.
Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru deliver some of the lowest costs of living and most accessible pension visas in Latin America, where a typical $2,000 monthly Social Security check can comfortably cover housing, healthcare, and everyday expenses.