Colossal Castle or Humble Home? Same Price – Your Choice


Italy v. New York – Just Under $1 Million
In Sabina Hill, Italy, $927,600 will buy you the Castle of Stimigliano. This antique piece of art has been blessed by the Italian society of preservation and bestowed with the name “Belle Arte.” It is restored, yet maintains of the aura of pastimes. 

In New York’s West Village, for just $41,400 more, at $969,000 you can purchase a two-bedroom apartment. Not even a house—an apartment—in a building, with other people who live in their own apartment (not in your maid’s quarters).

                


Mexico v. San Francisco – $1.5 Million
In Mexico 1.5 mil will get you an eleven-bedroom hacienda, complete with maids’ quarters and a fruit orchard with orange, tangerine, and lime trees. This castle also includes an expansive swimming pool, a well for water, and of course, a private chapel.

In San Francisco, that same 1.5 mil will get you a two-bedroom home with an attic, dryer, and breakfast nook.

              


Sweden v. Orange County $830,000
In Motala, Sweden, $830,000 will make you the owner of Castle Sjoskum, a famous white palace, custom-built by an affluent Swedish sea captain and crafted by the hands of renowned British architects. With 6,500 square feet and three stories, this palatial estate will make you sleep like Queen Elizabeth.

In Orange County, California, just $19,000 more, or $849,900 will buy you a three-bedroom, two bath, one-story home. There’s even a spot to park your RV.

              

 

It’s a tough call—a palatial estate that could have been Princess Diana’s stomping grounds, or a studio above a Moroccan restaurant in Manhattan? I’m going with the castle.

11 readers liked this story.
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06.17.2011
Chalmers Abrams
Great comparisons, but the things to consider are also quality of life, quality of schools, language barriers, convenience and security. That said, the estate in France does look tempting! http://www.mitchellhomesinc.com/
05.18.2011
Joshua Kennedy
I don't buy any of that. Maybe proofing up by showing some MLS (or other country's equivalent) listings. I would like to earn enough <a href="http://facebookrevenue.net">Facebook revenue</a> to buy a vacation home in some of these places
05.12.2008
H X
Bullsh!t. In South Africa a upper middle class home costs 2mil rand (i.e 250 000 USD). The castle + golf course will go for maybe 3-5 mil dollars not half a million.
05.10.2008
Steph Leto
Sorry but I'm french and if you can find me a quarter castel for 500000$ (=300000€) I will buy it right now... In fact you can find 1000m² for approximatively 170000€ (about 255000$) and you have to build your "castel" for 150000€ (220 000$) minimum (a realy modest house) So don't come in France with the idea to leave in a castel. It will be more expensive than you think... Ciao !
05.09.2008
The Macho Nacho
Okay, folks, dose of reality. This is very cute, but highly inaccurate. The writer is comparing properties in the most expensive markets in the U.S. with random markets around the world. Pretty broad strokes there. A million bucks may get you a tiny apartment in NYC or SoCal, but a million bucks will build you a 20,000 square foot home in hundreds of communities across the country. In Nebraska, for example (yes, there are trees, rivers, rolling hills) a million dollars will, indeed, allow you to build a castle. And let's see you get a job in Sabina Hill, Italy that will allow you to afford ye ole' castle. Somehow, I don't see Google putting adding a GooglePlex there.
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