Revealed: the real size of homes in capital cities around the world

How city homes around the world measure up

Capital cities are real estate hotspots where space often comes at a premium, so typical home sizes in these bustling centres tend to be small, to say the least. However, the average property size varies wildly depending on where you live, with the typical home in the most spacious capital more than five times bigger than the smallest on our list.

Click or scroll on to discover which capital cities offer the most – and least – square footage...

Data sources

Our figures are based on a dataset compiled by the building supplies website Buildworld, which focused on 72 capital cities worldwide in 2023. Square footage data from house and apartment listings was collated from property search platforms such as Zillow for the US and Canada, the UK's Rightmove, Singapore's 99.co and China's Fang.com, with the median home size calculated for each location. These figures were then cross-referenced against country-specific property studies to expand the dataset and verify the dimensions.

We've narrowed down the list to 25 key cities, starting with the smallest and going up to the biggest average home size...

Paris, France: 560 square feet (52sqm)

The typical home in Paris measures just 560 square feet (52sqm), around the size of a spacious studio or one-bedroom apartment. It's no surprise then that apartments make up the bulk of the housing stock in the densely populated French capital, ranging from elegant 19th-century Haussmann buildings to contemporary blocks. In contrast, houses are scarce and often command high prices when they come on the market. Homes with gardens are similarly hard to come by, especially in the city centre.

The most expensive neighbourhoods in the French capital include L'Odéon and Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement, while the 20th Arrondissement and Belleville are among the cheapest. 

Mexico City, Mexico: 665 square feet (61.8sqm)

Mexico City is the most expensive place in Mexico to buy residential property, so it figures that homes are on the small side, with a median size of just 665 square feet (61.8sqm). The average home price in the capital stands at just over 3.9 million pesos ($191k/£151k).

Mexico City is currently experiencing a housing crisis, though homes have been in short supply in the city since the devastating 1985 earthquake, which wiped out much of the housing stock. More recently, an explosion in short-term lets and the influx of wealthy digital nomads have exacerbated the shortage and driven up prices.

Space is tight across Mexico. The average home in the country contains 1.1 rooms per person, less than the global average of 1.7 per person, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Better Life Index.

The most desirable neighbourhoods in Mexico City include affluent Polanco and Lomas de Chapultepec, as well as hip Roma. Meanwhile, one of the cheapest areas for housing is Iztapalapa in the south, which is also among the most dangerous parts of the city.

Around the median size for a home in Mexico City, this one-bedroom rental apartment in Roma was listed with Blueground for a hefty 47,300 pesos ($2.3k/£1.8k) per month.

Buenos Aires, Argentina: 689 square feet (64sqm)

The median home size in Buenos Aires is a similarly compact 689 square feet (64sqm). When it comes to accommodation, the city and its downtown neighbourhoods mostly comprise high-rise apartment buildings and townhouses, while poorer tenement-style homes and shanty towns are found in the south. Further out in the suburbs, you'll find detached houses and ranch-style concrete homes.

One of the most affluent areas is Puerto Madero, a dockside neighbourhood peppered with high-end restaurants and expensive apartments. The largest enclave with the largest population is Palermo, which features leafy parks and sports and leisure amenities, as well as a diverse housing stock ranging from apartment complexes to urban mansions.

Lima, Peru: 775 square feet (72sqm)

Typical homes in Lima, Peru, measure 775 square feet (72sqm), roomy enough for two or even three bedrooms. The city is dominated by homeowners, with renters representing just 30% of households. There's high demand for apartments in the centre but you'll also find houses and larger homes with gardens in the leafier suburbs.  

Based on the latest figures from cost of living database Numbeo, the average price per square foot for an apartment in the city centre works out at $151 (£116) or $1,627 (£1.3k) per square metre. Meanwhile, the monthly rental cost for a one-bedroom apartment is an economical $618 (£476).

Prices differ dramatically depending on the neighbourhood in Lima. The cheapest place to buy is San Martín de Porres in the north of the city, according to the Urbania Index, which collates housing data across Lima. The price per square foot of a home here is 298 Peruvian sol ($81/£64) or 3,206 Peruvian sol ($872/£692) per square metre. In contrast, upmarket San Isidro has a price per square foot of 844 Peruvian sol ($230/£182) or 9,090 Peruvian sol per square metre ($2.5k/£2k).

Measuring exactly 775 square feet (72sqm), this two-bedroom apartment in the attractive Santiago de Surco district was listed for 565,900 Peruvian sol ($153k/£122k) with DMayo Real Estate.

Vienna, Austria: 793 square feet (73.7sqm)

Vienna, where the median home measures 793 square feet (73.7sqm), is a social housing haven. The Austrian capital has an abundance of super-affordable apartments owned and let by the local authority and cooperative housing associations. In fact, a quarter of the city's population are social tenants, according to UK newspaper The Guardian. 

The multitude of cheap social housing translates to low prices and renters in Vienna pay three times less than those in London, Dublin and Paris.

London, England: 807 square feet (75sqm)

London is one of the most expensive cities in the world for buying and renting property. According to UK listings site Zoopla, the average price per square foot in the city stands at £585 ($738) or £6,297 ($7.9k) per square metre. This is four times higher than the average for the North East of England, which has the cheapest homes in the country.

The typical property in the UK capital is 807 square feet (75sqm). Interestingly, outside space is more common in London than in many other capital cities – almost 40% of homes have access to a garden, patio, balcony or terrace. 

Santiago, Chile: 829 square feet (77sqm)

Santiago is among the most expensive Latin American cities to buy property. While the majority of residents own their homes, a growing number are choosing to rent, and renters now make up 30% of households.

According to the cost of living database Numbeo, apartments in the city centre cost an average of 2.9 million Chilean pesos ($2.8k/£2.1k) per square metre or 236,900 Chilean pesos ($257/£198) per square foot. When it comes to lettings, rental costs for a three-bedroom apartment in the centre average around 904,545 Chilean pesos ($983/£756) per month.

Beijing, China: 840 square feet (78sqm)

At 840 square feet (78sqm), the typical home in Beijing is big enough for two or three bedrooms. Renters in Chinese cities make up just 25% of the population, so the vast majority of Beijing residents own their homes. In fact, the People's Republic as a whole has one of the highest homeownership rates in the world at a staggering 93%.

But owning a home in China has become a daunting challenge amid the ongoing property crisis. Since 2020, home values have slumped and millions of apartments and houses are languishing unsold. However, Beijing authorities have eased regulations on home purchases, which has led to something of a buying spree in the city.

Apartments make up the bulk of Beijing's housing stock, but the city is also home to siheyuan housing complexes, which are usually shared by multiple families and are often blighted by poor living conditions.

Beijing's most affluent neighbourhood is Chaoyang Park, populated by skyscrapers and upscale restaurants and shops, as well as one of the city's largest green spaces. One of the more affordable areas is Wudaokou, where students are drawn by the cheaper costs of high-rise apartments.

To give you an idea about home prices, this 840-square-foot (78sqm) one-bedroom apartment west of central Beijing was listed on local property site Lianjia for ¥5.8 million ($796k/£633k).

Pretoria, South Africa: 861 square feet (80sqm)

The South African capital of Pretoria is the world's most affordable capital for property, according to a study by online credit union NetCredit. The average home costs just 4.7 times the typical salary, which is cheaper than any other capital surveyed. But the gap between rich and poor is exceedingly wide, which probably goes some way towards explaining why the median home size of 861 square feet (80sqm) isn't bigger.

The city is reeling in young buyers thanks to its affordability, relative proximity to Johannesburg and top-notch amenities, including its wealth of cultural attractions.

Pricey areas in the city include Waterkloof and Waterkloof Ridge to the east of the centre, as well as resort-style estates including Silver Lakes, which has a mixture of upscale apartments and houses. Meanwhile, the most affordable housing options are found in neighbourhoods such as Central Pretoria, Dorandia, Silverton and Montana Park.

Matching the median home size for the city, a three-bedroom apartment in the secure Roodepark Eco City 2 development close to the Montana suburb was listed with Century 21 for just R999,000 ($54k/£43k).

Berlin, Germany: 877 square feet (81.5sqm)

The typical home in Berlin comprises 877 square feet (81.5sqm), though housing types are diverse, ranging from apartment blocks and modern high-rises to older urban houses. 

The German capital is a city of renters. A whopping 85% of Berliners live in rented homes – more than any other city in our round-up. Tenants' rights are robust in Germany and renting tends to be cheaper than buying, hence its appeal. But despite attempts at regulating the market through government rent controls and other tactics such as restricting the number of short-term holiday lets, rental prices have risen sharply in Berlin over the past few years.

Washington DC, USA: 932 square feet (86.6sqm)

Housing in Washington DC ranges from lavish mansions and historic rowhouses to compact condos and housing project apartments, reflecting the wide income disparities in the US capital. The median home size of 932 square feet (86.6sqm) does, however, compare favourably with other capitals, particularly the more cramped European ones.

Unlike most parts of the US, renters comfortably outnumber owner-occupiers in DC, representing as many as 77.2% of households in one part of the capital.

Madrid, Spain: 980 square feet (91sqm)

Homes in the Spanish capital, which are mostly apartments, typically measure 980 square feet (91sqm). However, the median size could be coming down due to the fierce demand for residential property in the city.

Housing costs have been mushrooming in Madrid as a result. According to 2024 data from Idealista, the country's leading property portal, the average sale price of existing homes in the city was up 12.4% from the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, rents in Madrid also jumped by 17.9%.

Bern, Switzerland: 1,029 square feet (95.6sqm)

Renters make up the majority of households in the historic city of Bern, accounting for around 68% of the population, according to the World Economic Forum. Reflecting the rest of Switzerland, leasing a property in the city tends to be cheaper than buying one.

However, housing certainly isn't cheap in any part of the Swiss capital, so the city's fairly generous median home size of 1,029 square feet (95.6sqm) just goes to show how affluent the population is. Property here is extremely varied, ranging from luxury apartment blocks in the centre to villas and detached homes in the suburbs.

Cardiff, Wales: 1,082 square feet (100.5sqm)

The median home size in Cardiff, the capital of Wales in the UK, is larger than London's by more than a quarter at 1,082 square feet (100.5sqm).

Classic terraced homes make up much of the housing stock in the Welsh capital, though the city does boast plenty of grand detached houses, contemporary apartment blocks and other accommodation types.

At 58.3%, the homeownership rate in the city is the lowest in Wales but it's reasonably high compared to a lot of capital cities. Factors such as Cardiff's large student population keep the proportion of renters relatively high.

Dublin, Ireland: 1,098 square feet (102sqm)

Whether buying or renting, Dubliners need very deep pockets. Housing costs can be extremely high in the Irish capital. Prices have soared by 149% since 2012 and the average price of a home in the centre of the city now stands at more than €600,000 ($628k/£495k) according to the Central Statistics Office. Great for those who have owned a property long-term but not so amazing for first-time buyers.

The 45.2% of the population who rent have also seen prices rise considerably in recent years. The average open-market monthly rent in the city is now €2,476 ($2.6k/£2k).

Bogotá, Colombia: 1,109 square feet (103sqm)

The most affordable Latin American capital city for housing in our round-up, it makes sense that Bogotá in Colombia has the most spacious median home size among the capitals at 1,109 square feet (103sqm), despite being the most densely populated.

Homeowning households are slightly outnumbered by renters. 52.7% of the city's residents rent and Bogotá has the highest number of renters in Colombia at just over 1.5 million, which accounts for around a fifth of all renters in the country.

Singapore, Singapore: 1,121 square feet (104.1sqm)

Singapore's housing is generally expensive and the city-state is very densely populated. Yet the median home size is generous at 1,121 square feet (104.1sqm), which is almost double the figure for Paris.

Most of the housing stock in Singapore is public. Although the homeownership rate is almost 90%, 77.8% of residents live in public Housing & Development Board (HDB) blocks, which offer tenants the option to buy their apartments.

Liu Thai Ker, the architect behind a lot of Singapore's public housing, emphasised space and as a result, Singapore's housing stock tends to be roomy.

Wellington, New Zealand: 1,324 square feet (123sqm)

The least populous capital city in our round-up, Wellington is fairly big on space, with the median home size a very respectable 1,324 square feet (123sqm). Housing stock ranges from apartments in the heart of the city to townhouses and detached houses in the suburbs. However, the city's homeownership rate is 58.6%, the second-lowest in the country.

Homeowners tend to be much better off than renters in New Zealand, who have endured numerous price rises in recent years. Kelvin Davidson, chief economist at property research firm CoreLogic, told broadcaster RNZ in June 2024 that rent as a share of average household income had reached a record high of 22%, stretching household finances like never before.

Edinburgh, Scotland: 1,394 square feet (129.5sqm)

The most spacious capital in the UK, Edinburgh has a median home size of 1,383 square (129.5sqm), more than 70% bigger than London's figure and beating Cardiff's by 28%.

This probably has a lot to do with the Scottish capital's vast array of period properties, which tend to have larger rooms than more recent constructions. From Georgian townhouses to Victorian tenements, Edinburgh's heritage housing stock is exceptional, however, there is a severe shortage of social housing and private-sector rents have soared. 

New Delhi, India: 1,390 square feet (129.1sqm)

New Delhi has the biggest population of the capital cities in our round-up, coming in at a staggering 32.1 million. And in terms of population density, the city is one of the most overcrowded on the planet.

You'd be forgiven for thinking then that homes in India's capital would be tiny. But the median size for a residential property in New Delhi stands at 1,390 square feet (129.1sqm), which is large enough to accommodate three or four bedrooms.

Brussels, Belgium: 1,634 square feet (151.8sqm)

Brussels has the biggest median home size of the European capital cities featured in this round-up. At 1,634 square feet (151.8sqm), the typical dwelling is almost three times bigger than the median Parisian home.

Of course, much of this comes down to cost. The average single-family home in the city costs around €450,000 ($472k/£372k). However, rental costs have increased significantly over the past few years. Woluwe-Saint-Pierre is among the priciest places in Brussels to lease a home, with rent averaging €1,413 ($1.5k/$1.2k) per month. The most economical neighbourhoods are Laeken and Jette in the northwest, where the average is just above €900 ($944/£744), according to Belgian news site The Bulletin.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: 1,651 square feet (153.4sqm)

Abu Dhabi's median home size stands at a generous 1,651 square feet (153.4sqm). Apartments in Abu Dhabi's gleaming towers and state-of-the-art developments aren't absurdly expensive and cost considerably less to buy and rent out than their equivalents in London, Paris and other major capitals.

Through the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, the government of the Emirate promotes affordable housing by offering nationals various incentives and financial support programmes. And away from prime locations, buying and renting residential property tends to be reasonable.

Manila, Philippines: 1,668 square feet (155sqm)

Great wealth and grinding poverty sit side by side in Manila, which is one of the world's most densely populated capitals. The capital of the Philippines is peppered with slums, which accommodate a sizeable percentage of the population, yet it's also packed with tiny townhouses and luxurious residential towers. Though home sizes vary enormously across the city, the median comes in at a spacious 1,668 square feet (155sqm).

One of the most exclusive neighbourhoods is Forbes Park, a gated community in Metro Manila. Meanwhile, more affordable regions include Valenzuela, just north of the city centre.

Ottawa, Canada: 1,763 square feet (163.8sqm)

There are 2.6 rooms per person in Canada, more than any other member country of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. And space is most definitely not in short supply in the nation's capital, where the median home measures 1,763 square feet (163.8sqm).

But while Ottawa is more affordable than Toronto for home prices and rents, housing in the city isn't cheap. The median rent in Ottawa is 9% higher than the national average at CA$2,140 ($1.5k/£1.1k), according to rental market data site Zumper. As of January 2025, homes in the city were sold for an average of CA$670,258 ($465k/£366k), as reported by the Ottawa Real Estate Board.

Canberra, Australia: 2,759 square feet (256.3sqm)

Australia has the world's largest typical home size according to the World Population Review, so it's fitting that its capital has the most spacious median home in our round-up, at a sprawling 2,759 square feet (256.3sqm).

Planned as a verdant garden city, Canberra is among the least densely populated capitals and considerably more spread out than most. For this reason, homes are big. The city has plenty of single-family homes and townhouses, as well as multi-family units and high-rise homes in more built-up areas.

With its idyllic parklands, the suburb of Campbell is one of the most expensive areas, while Charnwood, Banks and Holt offer more affordable alternatives.