Monaco, the profiles of new residents who are moving in

Monaco is much more than a symbol of prestige. The Monegasque real estate market is constantly evolving, with rental apartments becoming increasingly rare and those for sale becoming more and more luxurious. In 2025, the Principality confirms its position as one of the most popular destinations for international high net worth individuals (Ultra High Net Worth Individuals). Through its expertise in the field, Petrini Exclusive Real Estate Monaco paints the portrait of an ultra-demanding, rapidly changing clientele that has come to settle in the heart of this rare, safe and globally connected territory.

Les Ultra High Net Worth Individuals

With a record density of Ultra High Net Worth Individuals — 1 for every 39 residents — Monaco is the world capital of wealth concentration. The annual ranking of the Global Property Handbook 2025 confirms this: the Principality is now the fourth most attractive city in the world for the wealthy. Behind this positioning, there is a profound shift in the expectations of these new residents.

"What we experience on a daily basis as an agency specialising in high-end real estate is a spectacular increase in interest in Monaco. We receive extremely targeted requests from people who really want to settle there, with their families, their projects, their teams," explains Eugenia Petrini, founder of Petrini Exclusive Real Estate Monaco.

According to the Global Property Handbook 2025, three main criteria guide the investment decisions of UHNWIs (Ultra High Net Worth Individuals):

• Emotions and cultural prestige: architecture, lifestyle, urban quality.
   
• Practicality and family comfort: international schools, proximity to economic hubs, high-end healthcare.
   
• Taxation and political stability: potential returns and legal certainty.
   

Monaco ticks all these boxes: zero public debt, no tax on income, inheritance or real estate capital gains, a closed market (17,000 private homes), and prices that have never fallen — even during major global crises.

Real estate investment remains among the safest in the world, even with average prices per m2 above €52,000/m² (and sometimes up to €130,000/m²). This high positioning does not discourage buyers:

"Even at such high prices, buying a property in Monaco remains a reliable, rare investment with a sense of heritage. Our clients, in search of stability, are increasingly turning to safe havens – gold, of course... and now Monegasque real estate. says Eugenia Petrini.

In addition, a temperate climate, a Mediterranean lifestyle, proximity to the French Riviera (Cap d'Antibes, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, etc.) and quick access to Nice airport enhance the appeal of those who live between several residences around the world.

Younger, more mobile, more rooted profiles

Today's ultra-rich resident is no longer yesterday's. Gone are the days of discreet retirees or heirs looking for tax discretion. From now on, it is active profiles, entrepreneurs, often aged between 40 and 55, who choose Monaco to set up their daily lives.

"We have seen an increase in the proportion of families among our customers," continues Eugenia Petrini. "They choose Monaco because it is an extremely positive environment to raise their children: there is security, educational excellence, a multicultural life. Many of the children we see growing up here speak three languages quickly: their native language, French, and English, thanks to international schools. »

This phenomenon is profoundly transforming the residential fabric of the Principality. The apartments sought are larger, better oriented towards family life, with concierge services, school proximity and high comfort.

Why the wealthy choose Monaco in 2025

The change in clientele is also reflected in budget levels. At Petrini Exclusve Real Estate Monaco, there is a clear move upmarket. While rental applications have traditionally been around €5,000 to €9,000 per month, the majority of searches in 2025 start above €10,000 to €15,000, with some reaching €30,000 or more. "Our last large rentals, at 25,000 euros per month or more, were all concluded with customers of Swiss nationality," says Eugenia Petrini.

On the sales side, the trend is just as striking. The agency now regularly receives searches of 70, 80, or even 100 million euros. A level that was once exceptional, but has become almost a norm in certain ultra-privileged segments. These clients are looking not only for location, but also for rare services, panoramic views, and perfect integration into the Monegasque landscape.

A very present European clientele... but one that is becoming international

The core customer base remains largely European. The British and Swiss dominate the new arrivals, followed by the Italians and the Scandinavian countries. "At the moment, a large part of our calls come from the United Kingdom and Switzerland. They are clearly the most active nationalities on the market, especially in premium products," explains Eugenia Petrini. The post-Brexit context has reinforced the safe haven offered by the Principality.

But the agency is also observing a discreet but real opening up to the international market, with requests from the Middle East, particularly the United Arab Emirates and more recently Oman, a phenomenon that is still rare but reveals the global image that Monaco is beginning to embody.

According to data from Altrata, in 2022 Monaco had the highest density of high net worth individuals in the world: 1 UHNWI for every 39 residents. Of the 944 ultra-rich homeowners surveyed, 76% own a second home, 24% a main residence.

• 67.8% are self-made men, having built their fortune themselves.
   
• Only 6.4% are pure heirs, while 25.8% combine inheritance and entrepreneurship.
   
• The majority of them are men (87.9%), 28.1% are under 50 years old, 35.9% between 50 and 70 years old and 36.1% over 70 years old.
   
• Many come with their families, in search of educational, health and legal stability.

With around 17,000 private homes in Monaco alone, real estate in Monaco is inherently scarce, which fuels its resilience to crises. Unlike other luxury markets, prices have never fallen yet. The Principality is a liquid, stable and transferable asset of assets. Even in times of global instability, demand remains strong, driven by confidence in this unique model.

An incomparable quality of life

What is convincing in the long term is the subtle balance between European tradition, contemporary comfort and maximum safety. "Monaco is often compared to Dubai in terms of safety, but with a European quality of life: access to culture, the sea, gastronomy, and exceptional weather. The Mediterranean microclimate with more than 300 days of sunshine makes a huge difference," says Eugenia Petrini.

Monaco is also a hyper-connected hub: 30 minutes from Nice International Airport, and two hours from most European capitals, it offers strategic accessibility while maintaining a unique human scale.

Residential luxury in Monaco: a new definition

For Petrini Exclusive Real Estate Monaco, this new generation of buyers is redefining the contours of luxury: it is no longer a question of square meters alone, but of the overall life project. Security, heritage, education, climate, economic stability: Monaco concentrates all the elements of a highly strategic investment, both tangible and sustainable.

"We are at a turning point. Budgets are increasing, profiles are diversifying, requirements are rising... but what customers are looking for above all is an environment of trust, a lasting anchorage. And that's exactly what Monaco offers today. »

What the evolution of profiles in Monaco reveals is a profound change in the way the world is inhabited. The wealthy are no longer just looking for a tax pied-à-terre, but a place to live consistent with their aspirations: security, education, stability, beauty, network.
Monaco is now concentrating these responses, with a rarity that time has only accentuated.

The figures speak for themselves: budgets are exploding, profiles are getting younger, requirements are rising.
But beyond the amounts, it is a vision of the future that is taking shape.
Choosing Monaco is not about running away from a situation: it is about taking a strong, strategic and emotional act.
It means anchoring one's heritage in a safe territory, placing one's family in an exceptional ecosystem, choosing the timeless in an unstable world.

At Petrini Exclusive Real Estate Monaco, we support these trajectories with high standards and discretion. We don't sell square metres: we build life projects. What if yours started here?