The title speaks for itself — I work in the City, in the heart of London — which means I have to be within commuting distance. As a consequence, I have to live in one of the most expensive places in the world per square meter. As you can see below, central London is more expensive than Manhattan, while the outskirts are cheaper than NYC’s — but not by much. Note: NYC remains the US’s most expensive city, ahead of LA and San Francisco.
Both London and NYC are “command centre” cities and economies; they have it all, and the global elite want a piece of both pies as investors and owners. For those who are merely in the top 4% (rather than the top 0.1%) — like myself — you’re wildly priced out of central London. If you want a “proper house” (3+ bedrooms, garage, drive, garden), you’re looking at a 45-minute train ride, while still paying commuter-belt premiums.
When a square meter of space costs this much, you have to squeeze out every inch of value. I’ve barely got started optimising my space, but here are a couple of emerging examples…
MAD COSTS:
Dr Martin James 