Seoul Outpaces Paris, Bangkok and More Global Cities Where Renting Could Cost Far Less Than Buying a Home

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Seoul outpaces Paris, Bangkok and more global cities as renting could cost far less than buying a home, with a new study exposing a dramatic gap between monthly rent and property prices.

Seoul outpaces Paris, Bangkok and more global cities where renting could cost far less than buying a home. A new housing study reveals a striking gap between rental payments and property prices. Seoul leads the comparison, with median monthly rent of about $610, while a 90-square-metre home costs roughly $2.6 million.

Consequently, the study estimates that 357 years of rent would equal the purchase price. Meanwhile, Paris, Bangkok and other global cities also show major differences between renting and buying. The findings highlight changing housing economics and offer useful insight for travellers, expatriates and long-stay residents considering accommodation in major international cities.

Seoul tops global cities where renting could cost far less than buying a home, with a study showing 357 years of rent could equal one purchase price as housing costs reshape urban travel and living choices.

Seoul tops global cities where renting could cost far less than buying a home, according to a September 2026 housing study. Seoul, renting and buying reveal a striking gap. The city’s median monthly rent is about $610, while a 90-square-metre home is valued at roughly $2.6 million. Consequently, renters would need 357 years of payments to match that purchase price.

Meanwhile, Bangkok, Vienna, Tokyo and Paris also show substantial differences between rental costs and property values. As global housing prices have risen, these cities demonstrate how renting can become a long-term lifestyle choice rather than simply a temporary step towards homeownership.

Seoul Leads Global Cities Where Renting Could Cost Far Less Than Buying

Seoul has emerged as the most striking city for long-term renters in a September 2026 housing study, with the cost of renting taking an estimated 357 years to reach the price of an average 90-square-metre home. The findings highlight a widening disconnect between monthly housing costs and property values in major international cities.

The study, commissioned by BC Game, compares median monthly rent, average net salaries, estimated prices for 90-square-metre homes and rental availability across cities worldwide. It describes the concept of ‘forever renting’ by calculating how long rental payments would theoretically take to equal the cost of purchasing a property.

Why does Seoul stand out for long-term renters?

Seoul records the largest gap in the study between cumulative rent and the price of buying a home. Median monthly rent is listed at approximately $610, representing 17.2% of the average net salary, while the estimated price of a 90-square-metre property reaches about $2.6 million.

On the study’s calculation, continuous rent payments would take 357 years to equal that purchase price. Seoul also has approximately 14,200 rental opportunities in the dataset, giving prospective tenants a sizeable market alongside the substantial difference between rental and ownership costs.

How does Bangkok compare with Seoul?

Bangkok ranks second in the study, although its housing economics differ considerably from Seoul. Median monthly rent is approximately $359, making it the cheapest rental market among the ten cities highlighted, but rent accounts for 56.7% of average net salary.

A 90-square-metre property is estimated at about $547,000. At the reported rental rate, it would take approximately 127 years of rent to reach the purchase price. Bangkok therefore combines relatively low absolute rent with a considerably higher rental burden against local income.

Why is Vienna included among the leading rental cities?

Vienna ranks third, with an estimated 113 years of rent required to equal the price of a 90-square-metre home. Median monthly rent is approximately $988, while the reported property value is around $1.34 million.

Rent represents 27.9% of average net salary in the study. The figures illustrate a market where monthly accommodation costs remain substantial, but the purchase price creates an even larger long-term financial gap.

What does Tokyo’s housing market show?

Tokyo occupies fourth place, with median monthly rent of approximately $698 and rent accounting for 23.1% of average net salary. The study estimates that 96 years of rent would equal the cost of buying a 90-square-metre home.

The corresponding property price is approximately $805,000. Tokyo therefore demonstrates how a comparatively moderate monthly rental burden can coexist with a substantial home purchase cost in a major global city.

Why does Paris matter to international renters?

Paris ranks fifth and has the largest reported rental availability among the highlighted cities. The study lists approximately 17,600 rental opportunities, significantly exceeding the figures recorded for Seoul, Vienna and Tokyo.

Median monthly rent is around $1,189, equivalent to 32.8% of average net salary. Meanwhile, a 90-square-metre home is estimated at approximately $1.34 million, producing a theoretical 94-year period of rent before reaching the purchase price.

Which cities complete the top 10?

Zurich, Singapore, Helsinki, Stockholm and Munich complete the ten-city table supplied by the study. Zurich has the highest monthly rent among these markets at approximately $2,469, while its estimated 90-square-metre home price reaches nearly $2.5 million.

Singapore records monthly rent of about $2,187 and an estimated 80-year rent-to-purchase period. Helsinki also records 80 years, while Stockholm reaches 79 years and Munich 77 years.

The figures underline an important distinction: a city can have expensive rent without necessarily making ownership financially comparable. The relationship between rent, salaries and property values varies substantially from one market to another.

What does the study mean for urban tourism and travel?

Although the research focuses on housing rather than tourism, its findings have wider implications for cities with large international populations, expatriate communities, digital workers and extended-stay visitors. Housing affordability can influence how long visitors remain in a destination and whether temporary accommodation becomes part of a longer relocation decision.

The figures also show why rental markets are increasingly relevant to destination planning. Cities that attract international workers and long-stay visitors must consider accommodation availability alongside traditional hotel capacity, particularly when housing costs and property prices diverge sharply.

BC Game’s chief executive said that the traditional assumption that buying is cheaper than renting has changed as interest rates and property prices have altered the economics of homeownership. The company’s statement specifically points to markets such as Paris, Vienna and Tokyo as examples of cities where the gap between renting and buying has become significant.

What should readers take from the findings?

The study does not establish that renting is universally better than buying. Its calculation is a simplified comparison between reported rental payments and property prices and does not appear to account comprehensively for mortgage interest, taxes, maintenance, insurance, investment returns, inflation, property appreciation or transaction costs.

Nevertheless, the data provide a useful snapshot of how dramatically rental and ownership economics can differ across global cities. Seoul’s 357-year calculation is particularly striking, while Bangkok, Vienna, Tokyo and Paris demonstrate that the phenomenon extends across several major international markets.

For travellers, expatriates and people considering longer stays abroad, the findings also reinforce the importance of examining local housing costs rather than relying solely on hotel prices or headline property values. Renting, in some destinations, is increasingly becoming a long-term accommodation strategy rather than merely a temporary alternative to ownership.

Seoul, Bangkok, Vienna, Tokyo and Paris demonstrate how dramatically renting and buying can diverge across global cities. Seoul stands apart, with the study estimating 357 years of median rent would equal the price of a 90-square-metre home. Bangkok follows at 127 years, while Vienna reaches 113 years, Tokyo 96 years and Paris 94 years. The figures are especially relevant to international residents, long-stay travellers and digital workers assessing accommodation costs. However, the calculations should be treated as a comparative housing indicator rather than a complete financial model. Mortgage rates, taxes, maintenance, inflation, investment returns and property appreciation can materially change the outcome. Nevertheless, the report highlights a wider urban trend: high property prices can create a substantial distance between renting and owning, making long-term rental markets increasingly important to how people live, work and spend extended periods in major international destinations.

The cause behind the striking differences is the widening relationship between property prices, monthly rents and household incomes across major cities. The answer from the study is that Seoul records the longest theoretical period, at 357 years, before cumulative rent reaches the estimated purchase price of a 90-square-metre home. The reason is the combination of relatively low reported monthly rent and exceptionally high property values. However, this calculation does not represent a complete investment comparison. Mortgage interest, taxes, maintenance, inflation, appreciation and investment returns can alter the economics considerably. Therefore, the findings are best understood as a comparative snapshot of global rental and housing affordability.

“In today’s rapidly changing travel and urban economy, housing affordability is becoming increasingly important to how people choose destinations for longer stays. The figures from Seoul, Bangkok, Vienna, Tokyo and Paris offer an interesting perspective on the growing importance of rental accommodation. For the travel industry, this is particularly relevant as digital workers, expatriates, students and long-stay travellers increasingly seek flexible living arrangements. The findings also demonstrate why destinations need to understand accommodation beyond traditional hotels. A strong rental ecosystem can influence visitor retention, relocation decisions and the wider urban experience. This research provides a useful starting point for understanding that changing relationship between travel, housing and city life.”

— Anup Kumar Keshan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Travel And Tour World

Seoul outpaces Paris, Bangkok and more global cities in the study’s comparison of renting and buying a home. The figures show that renting could cost far less than purchasing property over extremely long periods in several major destinations. Seoul records the most dramatic gap, with 357 years of rent theoretically equalling the price of a 90-square-metre home. Bangkok follows with 127 years, while Vienna, Tokyo and Paris record 113, 96 and 94 years respectively.

However, these figures should not be treated as a complete financial verdict. Property taxes, mortgage interest, maintenance, insurance, inflation, investment returns and future house-price changes can alter the calculation substantially. Nevertheless, the research highlights a significant housing trend. For international residents, digital workers, expatriates and long-stay travellers, rental markets can increasingly shape decisions about where to live, work and spend extended periods abroad.