Luxury Lens: Where in the World Does $1M Buy the Most Space?
/SOURCE: Sotheby’s
“Where $1 Million Buys the Most Space,” published by Realtor.com® on October 27, 2025, reveals that existing high-end U.S. homes priced at US$1-2M range significantly in size nationwide.
At one end of the scale is Urban Honolulu, where US$1-2M typically buys 1,651 square feet of prime property. Occupying the other end is the metro area of Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell in Georgia, where the same budget secures a median 4,530 square feet—more than twice as much living space.
As Anthony Smith, senior economist for Realtor.com, highlights, both options offer value; the choice depends on an individual buyer’s priorities and preferences.
“Luxury buyers are increasingly seeking value—and that doesn’t always mean a lower price tag, but rather more home for the money,” says Smith of areas with bigger homes in this range. “In markets like Honolulu or the Bay Area, buyers are paying for proximity, views and prestige—not square footage,” he adds.
So how do existing homes in key international locations measure up? With luxury real estate offices in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand can expand the picture.
Data from Sotheby’s International Realty affiliates in five prime property hotspots across five different continents shows that Cape Town, South Africa, offers the most spacious living, with US$1-2M typically buying 4,844 square feet, exceeding Atlanta’s median footprint. This is followed by São Paulo, Brazil (3,850 square feet), Auckland, New Zealand (1,732 square feet), Madrid, Spain (1,346 square feet), and Singapore (a diminutive but valuable 977 square feet).
With its unrivalled global network, Sotheby’s International Realty understands that what defines a luxury home is unique to each buyer, and its affiliated agents are ready to help identify opportunity, wherever in the world their clients want to live.
As Anthony Smith, senior economist for Realtor.com, highlights, both options offer value; the choice depends on an individual buyer’s priorities and preferences.
“Luxury buyers are increasingly seeking value—and that doesn’t always mean a lower price tag, but rather more home for the money,” says Smith of areas with bigger homes in this range. “In markets like Honolulu or the Bay Area, buyers are paying for proximity, views and prestige—not square footage,” he adds.
So how do existing homes in key international locations measure up? With luxury real estate offices in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide, Sotheby’s International Realty can expand the picture.
Data from Sotheby’s International Realty affiliates in five prime property hotspots across five different continents shows that Cape Town, South Africa, offers the most spacious living, with US$1-2M typically buying 4,844 square feet, exceeding Atlanta’s median footprint. This is followed by São Paulo, Brazil (3,850 square feet), Auckland, New Zealand (1,732 square feet), Madrid, Spain (1,346 square feet), and Singapore (a diminutive but valuable 977 square feet).
With its unrivalled global network, Sotheby’s International Realty understands that what defines a luxury home is unique to each buyer, and its affiliated agents are ready to help identify opportunity, wherever in the world their clients want to live.
So how do existing homes in key international locations measure up? With luxury real estate offices in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide, Sotheby’s International Realty can expand the picture.
Data from Sotheby’s International Realty affiliates in five prime property hotspots across five different continents shows that Cape Town, South Africa, offers the most spacious living, with US$1-2M typically buying 4,844 square feet, exceeding Atlanta’s median footprint. This is followed by São Paulo, Brazil (3,850 square feet), Auckland, New Zealand (1,732 square feet), Madrid, Spain (1,346 square feet), and Singapore (a diminutive but valuable 977 square feet).
SOURCE: Sotheby’s
