According to My Dolce Casa, the median price per square foot in Manhattan, NY is $1,500.
Alexander Spatari | Moment |
Manhattan, New York, is notorious for its high cost of living. The city is regularly ranked as one of the most expensive places to live in the world.
Buying a 500-square-foot condo in New York City can cost you around $750,000, according to research blog My Dolce Casa. Its study relied on data from real estate agents that found the average price per square foot in the city is $1,500.
You can practically trade your small studio apartment in the city for a villa with over 650 square meters of floor space in Sicily (Italy) or opt for other properties in the Mediterranean that are about ten times the size of the studio.
According to an August report by My Dolce Casa, for the price of a 500-square-foot apartment in New York City, you can get the following in ten popular Mediterranean destinations:
According to My Dolce Casa, for the price of a 500-square-foot apartment in New York City, you can get a property of over 7,000 square feet in Sicily, Italy.
© Marco Bottigelli | moment |
Sicily, Italy
Plot size: 668 m²
Famous for its rich history, beautiful beaches and charming hilltop towns, Sicily in Italy is a popular tourist destination with over 6 million visitors annually, according to a report published in July by Worldmetrics.org.
Despite its popularity, you get a lot for your money when buying property on the Italian island. Sambuca di Sicilia, a municipality in Sicily, made a splash in recent years when it auctioned houses with a starting bid of one euro.
According to My Dolce Casa, for the price of a 46 square meter apartment in New York, you can get a property of over 376 square meters in the Loire Valley of France.
Manfred Gottschalk | Stone |
Loire Valley, France
Plot size: 371 m²
Known for its beautiful scenery, historic towns and world-class wines, the city has an average price per square foot of $187. According to My Dolce Casa, you can trade your studio apartment in New York for a home eight times bigger in the Loire Valley.
According to My Dolce Casa, for the price of a 500-square-foot apartment in New York City, you can get a property of over 3,000 square feet in Porto, Portugal.
Bondart | Istock | Getty Images
North (Porto), Portugal
Plot size: 3,289 square feet
Porto is the country's second largest city and is known for its rich history, architecture and fortified wine. Here you can buy a property that is more than six times the size of a 500-square-foot apartment in New York. Portugal has become a hotspot for retirees as it is a safe and sunny, yet affordable, destination to settle down.
According to My Dolce Casa, for the price of a 500-square-foot apartment in New York City, you can get a 3,000-square-foot property in Tuscany, Italy.
Shaun Egan | The Image Database | Getty Images
Tuscany, Italy
Plot size: 3,165 square feet
Tuscany in Italy is a popular tourist destination and recorded more than 44 million overnight stays in accommodation establishments in 2022, according to Statista.
Here, where the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Michelangelo's David statue are located, you can buy a property that is six times the size of a New York apartment.
According to My Dolce Casa, for the price of a 500-square-foot apartment in New York City, you can get a property with over 3,000 square feet of floor space on the Greek island of Crete.
Roberto Moiola / Sysaworld | moment |
Crete, Greece
Plot size: 322 m²
On the largest Greek island, a plot of land costs an average of $215 per square meter, according to My Dolce Casa. You can trade your condo in New York for a 3,400-square-foot home on the island of Crete.
According to My Dolce Casa, for the price of a 46-square-meter apartment in New York City, you can get a property of over 283 square meters in Catalonia, Spain.
Alexander Spatari | Moment |
Catalonia (Barcelona), Spain
Plot size: 284 m²
Catalonia, which stretches for hundreds of kilometers along the Mediterranean coast and where Barcelona is located, is expected to receive more than 18 million international tourists in 2023, according to Statista. Here you can expect a house of up to 280 square meters, according to the report.
According to My Dolce Casa, for the price of a 46 square meter apartment in New York, you can get a property with over 260 square meters of floor space in the Canary Islands in Spain.
Andrea Comi | Moment |
Canary Islands, Spain
Plot size: 2,830
The Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of Morocco, are also a popular tourist destination, with around 14 million international visitors coming in 2023. according to Statista. Here you can trade your New York studio for good weather all year round in a 260 square meter house overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
According to My Dolce Casa, for the price of a 46 square meter apartment in New York you can get a property of almost 280 square meters on the Italian Riviera.
Fokkebok | Istock | Getty Images
Liguria (Italian Riviera), Italy
Plot size: 2,930 square feet
Known as the Italian Riviera, Liguria is home to some of Italy's most picturesque destinations such as Cinque Terre and Portofino. Known for great food and stunning views, you can purchase a property here that's nearly six times the size of a New York condo.
According to My Dolce Casa, for the price of a 46 square meter apartment in New York, you can get a property of over 185 square meters in the French Provence.
Fraser Hall | The Image Database | Getty Images
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Plot size: 2,100 square feet
Located on the Mediterranean coast in southeastern France, the Provence region is home to Marseille, a popular port city that, according to recent data, recorded over 16 million overnight stays by tourists in 2023. The world-famous French Riviera is also located in Provence and is home to the popular city of Cannes and the coastal town of St. Tropez.
For the price of a condo in New York City, you can get a property four times larger in Provence.
According to My Dolce Casa, for the price of a 46 square meter apartment in New York, you can get a property of over 185 square meters in Madrid, Spain.
Alexander Spatari | Moment |
Madrid, Spain
Plot size: 2,131 square feet
Madrid, the capital of Spain, recorded 10.6 million visitors in 2023, according to the Madrid Convention Bureau. The city is known as the financial center of Spain, is home to beautiful parks, and has a vibrant arts scene.
Known as one of the best destinations for expats, here you can trade your New York apartment for a property of over 2,000 square feet.
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