Bangkok has been ranked among the world's 10 most expensive cities for high-net-worth individuals, according to the Julius Baer Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2026, published on July 7.
The city was one of five Asia-Pacific locations to make the top 10, alongside Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Sydney, reflecting the region's continued strength as what the report called a powerhouse of global affluence.
Ten most expensive cities for high-end living
- Singapore
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Monaco
- Hong Kong
- London, England
- Shanghai, China
- Paris, France
- Sydney, Australia
- Milan, Italy
- Bangkok, Thailand
Overall, the cost of maintaining a premium standard of living rose by 10.2% globally in US dollar terms over the past year. However, much of the increase was driven by currency movements rather than local price inflation, particularly the strength of the Swiss franc and the euro.
The report follows the release of another survey showing that Bangkok is emerging as Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing hub for ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals.
In the Julius Baer survey, Singapore retained its position as the world's most expensive city for the fourth consecutive year, supported by high property and car prices and a strong local currency. Zurich climbed three places to second, while Monaco entered the top three for the first time. Hong Kong fell to fourth and London to fifth.
Sydney was the biggest climber in the region, rising six places to eighth on the back of a strong Australian dollar and higher import costs for premium goods. Despite this, average prices across the Asia-Pacific region rose 7.4% in US dollar terms, below the global average.
The report also found that gold prices have more than doubled since 2024, pushing up the cost of jewellery by 16.4% and watches by 15.5%. Luxury goods prices rose 12.3% on average worldwide.
A separate lifestyle survey conducted for the report found that between 82% and 95% of high-net-worth respondents across all regions were concerned about geopolitical uncertainty, with spending in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East continuing to outpace Europe, North America and Latin America.
Read the full report here.
