It is all about location, any conversation leaving that out is like comparing cars in general, some people are taking about sedans, some SUVs, some trucks, some semi-trucks...

Even within cities it doesn't help, it is down to neighborhoods and streets. These threads seem to devolve into "It is so expensive in XYZ" or "You can get 5 homes in ABC."

To be honest, I'm not sure how to best run comparisons on real-estate. Anything beyond "this place looks a lot more expensive than that place" is well above my pay grade.

In the area I'm in $850/mo USD is the low end apartments and you aren't going to get a condo or house for that rate. This is in an area that borders between suburbs and rural (different agencies classify it differently).

I wonder if the rent rates tell a story of certain housing areas and things happening there.

What kind of mansion you live in? Highest rent I ever have paid was 400€/mo and it included water, electricity, and internet.

Average rent for a 1Br in the US is north of $1000.

(edit) - typo

~900sqf (~84sqM) one bedroom on the skirts of one of the most expensive places in the United States. My utilities (except water) are all billed separately. If I were to buy a house in this area and paid in mortgage what I pay in rent, I'd get something a little bit bigger (2 bed, 1 bath, in 'ok' condition, probably 10 to 15 years old).