Singapore Named World's Most Expensive City for the Wealthy Again

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Singapore has once again been named the world’s most expensive city for high-net-worth individuals, retaining the top spot for the fourth consecutive year in the Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2026 published by Swiss private banking group Julius Baer.

The annual ranking evaluates the cost of maintaining a luxury lifestyle across 25 major cities worldwide, taking into account expenses such as residential property, private education, healthcare, automobiles and luxury goods.

Singapore Retains Top Position

According to the report, Singapore’s continued dominance is driven by rising property prices, expensive vehicle ownership, the strength of the Singapore dollar and higher global prices for luxury goods, particularly watches and jewellery.

Researchers noted that wealthy individuals are increasingly looking beyond the overall cost of living, placing greater emphasis on a destination’s long-term value. Political stability, economic resilience, quality of life and a favourable balance between income and expenditure have become key considerations when choosing where to live and invest.

Zurich and Monaco Move Up the Rankings

Zurich climbed to second place in this year’s index, overtaking London, while Monaco entered the top three for the first time since the report was first published in 2020.

Hong Kong ranked fourth, followed by London in fifth place.