Just In: I visited Prince Harry and Meghan’s Montecito neighbourhood – there was one big problem….See More

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Montecito is said to be one of the dearest areas in America, with homes costing around £6million on average.

Home to the likes of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Oprah Winfrey, and Gwyneth Paltrow, the town of Montecito may seem small and unassuming at first, but it is the fifth most expensive zip code in the United States.

The picturesque ocean-side village is set to feature heavily in Meghan’s eight-part lifestyle series when it releases in March. The series will see Meghan teaching viewers about baking, tablescaping, and flower arranging.

The Times journalist Katie Glass visited Montecito to see what the neighbourhood was really like. When she arrived, Katie was met with an “uninspiring collection of low beige bungalows” concealing a series of shops.

But soon noticed the Tesla, Bentley, and two Porsche Cayennes parked outside. She noticed that Montecito appeared to ooze wealth.

In fact, an average house in the “quaint” town costs around $7.5million – roughly £6million. Some have fetched up to $63million – about £50.6million – while the Sussexes own Montecito mansion reportedly set them back around $14million (£11.2million).

After pulling up in the town, Katie found herself searching for a snack, ending up with a “vegan, kosher, gluten-free, non-GMO certified beetroot juice and a 100 per cent organic vegan, gluten-free, palm oil-free, soy-free, low-sodium ‘chocolate bar’” for $10 (£8).

Inside Montecito’s shops she discovered $70 (£56) wooden-handled dusters, a $19 (£15) range of jam, and $800 (£640) stone chickens sold as “garden ornaments”.

She remarked: “Everything is exorbitantly expensive. Even the plainest home shop I find, Hudson Grace, is flogging $1,000 silver champagne buckets.”

Keen for a spot of lunch, the journalist visited Lucky’s, a restaurant Harry and Meghan are said to frequent on date nights, only to discover a steak cost around $175 (£140). Instead, she visited Tre Lune, the Italian restaurant where Meghan is said to have celebrated her 42nd birthday.