Overview
- Julius Baer published its Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report on July 7, 2026, confirming Singapore as the most expensive city for wealthy consumers for the fourth consecutive year.
- The index uses price checks of 20 luxury goods and services across 25 cities with data collected November 2025 to March 2026 and a 360‑respondent HNWI survey from February to March 2026.
- Singapore’s top rank was driven mainly by high residential property and car prices plus a strong Singapore dollar, while Zurich rose to second and Monaco entered the top three largely because stronger European currencies raised US dollar costs.
- Rising raw material costs, especially gold which has more than doubled since 2024, pushed up prices for watches and jewellery and helped lift luxury costs across several cities.
- More than 70 percent of Asia‑Pacific wealthy investors increased diversification last year and many added precious metals as a hedge, a shift that could sustain demand for physical gold and influence where rich households place assets and tax or succession structures.