Where Is the Cheapest Place to Buy Property Abroad?
Written by: Marcus M. Araz, MBA, PhD · Updated:
The lowest entry point in our portfolio is Dubai: a flat at AED 550,000, about £115,500 at the rate we use. Manchester follows at £120,000, then Greece at €250,000 (about £212,500). But the answer to “cheapest” is not just the ticket price: the taxes and costs on top vary a lot by country, and a low entry point differs in yield, liquidity and residency rights. We compare the three markets on entry budget, total cost and what each one gives you.
The lowest entry point in each market
| Market | Lowest price in our portfolio | Sterling equivalent | Costs | Approximate total including costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | AED 550,000 (Eaton Place) | £115,500 | About 4.3% (including the 4% DLD fee) | £120,500 |
| England | £120,000 (Willow Court, Manchester) | £120,000 | Stamp duty (7% with the additional dwelling and non-resident surcharges), legal fees and disbursements | £129,900 |
| Greece | €250,000 (Golden Visa conversion projects) | £212,500 | About 6.73 percent plus 684 euro | £227,400 |
Sterling equivalents use the fixed rate applied across our site (€1 = £0.85, AED 1 = £0.21) and are indicative. The stamp duty example is for a buyer who lives abroad and already owns another home; for your own figure use our stamp duty calculator .
What a low entry point does and does not give you
| Dubai, AED 550,000 | UK, £120,000 | Greece, €250,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| rental income tax | None | Yes | Yes |
| Residency rights | Not at this level (the Golden Visa threshold is AED 2 million) | None | Yes (the €250,000 threshold on conversion projects) |
| Gross rental yield | Up to 7% in our portfolio | 6% to 7% in and around Manchester | About 3% on Golden Visa projects |
| Payment | Interest-free off-plan instalments | 10% on exchange, the balance at completion | A 10% to 30% deposit depending on the project |
| Currency | Dirham (pegged to the US dollar) | Sterlin | Euro |
Which one suits which case
- Rental income on the smallest budget: Dubai. The entry price is the lowest, rental income is untaxed and an off-plan payment plan does not tie up your capital at the start.
- A sterling asset and a deep market: the UK. A £120,000 entry is possible in Manchester and Liverpool, with a wide pool of tenants and of buyers when you sell. The city comparison is on our rental yield page.
- Residency in Europe: Greece. The entry budget is higher, but €250,000 gives the whole family a five year renewable residence permit; more on our What you need to buy in Greece page.
What to watch when hunting for cheap
- Service charge: on low-priced flats the service charge can eat a large share of the yield; ask for the annual figure before making an offer.
- Area: the cheap area in a city can be the one where tenants are hard to find. Ask about rental demand, not just price.
- Minimum loan size: at very low amounts, some lenders’ minimum loan size (often around £100,000) can be an obstacle.
- Total cost: compare the amount including costs, not the ticket price; see our costs when buying abroad .
- Exit: at the cheap end the pool of buyers can be narrower when you sell; liquidity matters as much as price.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the cheapest property abroad? The lowest entry in our portfolio is AED 550,000 in Dubai, about £115,500. In the UK it is £120,000 in Manchester, and in Greece €250,000 on Golden Visa projects.
Is the cheapest property the best investment? Not necessarily. Service charges, tenant demand, access to finance and the pool of buyers on exit all count. Compare on total cost including fees and on net yield.
Can you buy property abroad with £100,000? Flats at AED 550,000 in Dubai sit just above that level; with costs you need about £120,500. In the UK the lowest entry in our portfolio is £120,000.
Does a cheap purchase come with residency? In Greece, €250,000 conversion projects do give a residence permit. In Dubai the Golden Visa needs AED 2 million; in the UK buying a home gives no residency rights.
Which country has the lowest costs? As a percentage, Dubai: about 4.3% on an off-plan purchase. Greece is about 6.73% plus fixed items, and in the UK stamp duty depends on the buyer’s circumstances.
Related pages
Overseas property investment, Dubai or Greece and is buying off plan worth it.
Sources
Prices are the lowest current listings in our portfolio. Cost percentages come from our country cost pages: England, Dubai and Greece. Sterling equivalents use a fixed rate; the actual rate is set on the day of the transaction.
How we help you with this
As capital.works®, the Overseas Property Centre, we represent selected developments in England, Dubai and Greece. There are currently 124 developments live on the site, each with its price list, floor plans and completion schedule on its own page. We are an FCA authorised credit broker (FRN 1049015) and a member of the NACFB; the purchase, the finance, residency and post completion management are all run by one team.
Legal notice
capital.works® (YATIRIM UK LIMITED) is a real estate advisory company; it does not provide legal or tax advice. The title and contract process is carried out by a solicitor registered in the UK. On the mortgage side, our FCA authorisation applies (FRN 1049015, authorised credit broker).
The next step
Tell us your budget and your priority and we will put the most suitable projects in our portfolio side by side, with the total cost including expenses and the net yield: Contact us.