_How much property can one million US dollars buy you across the globe?

Postage stamp or palace?

Charting the cost per sq m of prime property in key cities across the globe and part of the PIRI 100 research, Knight Frank's unique 'price per sq m' pagoda has remained relatively static over the last few years with small but heavy-weight city-state Monaco still the most expensive location to purchase real estate in, followed by densely packed metropoles Hong Kong and New York.

Down or upsizing?

Chalking it up to investor demand vs lack of space and supply, the gap between the top tier cities and those at the bottom is significant. At the end of December 2017, US$1 million would buy you just 16 sq m of prime property in Monaco with the same amount securing a more roomy 48 sq m in Sydney, 77 sq m in Berlin and a palatial 173 sq m in São Paulo.

But what about London? Outperforming other European cities, the UK capital slipped to fourth position in 2017, overtaken by New York; London remained fourth in 2018 offering, on average, two sq metres less for the same amount. 

Bang for your buck

So what exactly will you get for $US 1 million? Searching our global database of properties available through Knight Frank, we bring the latest Wealth Report research to life, showing properties currently on the market for ( around ) the US$1 million price tag in prime areas of some of the world's most desirable cities. The question being, will it fit just your suitcase or stretch to a classic car collection?

Studio apartment at 196 Orchard Street, Lower East Side, NYC

$US 985,000 ( £702,846)

Freshly launched, boutique 11-storey development at 196 Orchard Street in New York's achingly trendy Lower East Side. At the sharpest edge of luxury New York City living, the industrial-inspired development houses 94 new condominium apartments ranging from studios to four-bedroom residences with access to top-shelf amenities such as the Equinox Fitness Center and Spa, rooftop terrace with a sky lawn and al fresco kitchens. 

$985,000 will get your foot through the door and secure you studio space in this hip NYC development which incidentally counts NYC's matriarch of salt beef bagel joints, Katz's deli, as a neighbour. 

Interested? 

One bedroom apartment at Queens Wharf, Hammersmith, London

$US 944,581 (£675,000)

Completed in 2017 this bright, brand new one bed flat for sale in Hammersmith, W6 is part of the Queens Wharf development which offers sweeping East to West river views ( especially beneficial the day of the Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race). 

The site also houses the world-famous Riverside Studios and its many amenities including a theatre, café, restaurant, bar and cinema.

Residents of Queens Wharf have easy access to the West End and the City, and also out to Heathrow airport via the Piccadilly line as well as to neighbouring Chiswick with its village-like community, bijou cafes and trendy restaurants. 

Interested?

One bedroom apartment at Lincoln Suites, District 11, Singapore

$US 1,012,216.00 ( £718,128.58)

Sited in Singapore's exclusive District 11, the ultra lux Lincoln Suites development promises a 'world of privilege and pleasure'. Granted, some of Singapore's best schools, malls, boutiques and restaurants are clustered in the area while the Lincoln Suites lifestyle taps into the aspirations of just about anyone.

With whole wings dedicated to just about any whim, at any time of day, residents can make use of the private members club style facilities that include a 360 degree spa pool, 'chill-out' zone, leisure & club zone.

And then there's that 24th floor sky gym. Linking the development's two towers, the glass-bottom work out capsule is fitted with the latest fitness equipment. If it's not the surrealism of pumping weights defiantly suspended from the upper floors of a residential tower block to get the pulses racing, it'll be the spectacular views over the development's landscaped garden and the Singapore skyline. 

Interested?

Two bedroom apartment at Am Hochmeisterplatz, Charlottenberg, Berlin

$US 956,400 (£683,467)

Berlin, alongside population growth, is currently enjoying a construction and real estate investment boom with glossy new developments cropping up across trendy areas of this creative, edgy city. This two bedroom apartment is on the market for just under US$1 million and forms part of trendy Charlottenberg's Am Hochmeisterplatz development, right in the heart of Berlin, and a stone's throw from top address Kurfürstendamm Boulevard. 

The apartment offers far reaching views of the residents' private park. 

Interested? 

Four bedroom villa in Upper Kenilworth, Cape Town

$US 1,076,440 (£765,000)

A decidedly more capacious option for those that value good weather, the outdoors and big living spaces. Coming in at just over $US 1 million this well preserved, colonial era Cape Town villa sits in a secluded pocket of leafy Upper Kenilworth.

Surrounded by Cape Town's verdant suburbia, this handsome property comes with ( finally) parking spaces for no less than eight cars, a swimming pool and four bedrooms. 

And with foreign and domestic investment buoyant and prime property prices rising by 20% year on year, perhaps now is the time to invest in Cape Town property? 

Interested?

This blog is part of a series of posts highlighting the unique research featured in 2018's The Wealth Report - Knight Frank's annual publication charting wealth flows, residential & commercial property markets and luxury spending trends.