Most and Least Affordable Cities by City Size

Explore how affordability varies by city size around the world. This ranking compares the most and least affordable cities within small, mid-sized, and large population categories, helping you understand how urban scale impacts cost of living. Use the interactive table and map to filter cities by size group and compare Cost of Living Index values. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly small city or evaluating affordability in major global hubs, this page provides a clear, data-driven comparison.

Lowest

Highest

Region Worldwide Europe Asia North America South America Africa Oceania

Rank	City	Population	Price per month for a nomad	Living Index
1	Shanghai, China	24,870,895	$1,229	59
2	Beijing (Pekin), China	21,893,095	$1,183	57
3	Dhaka, Bangladesh	21,741,000	$433	21
4	Chengdu, China	20,937,757	$740	35
5	Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo	17,032,322	$1,757	84
6	Delhi, India	16,787,941	$545	26
7	Istanbul, Turkey	15,701,602	$1,531	73
8	Karachi, Pakistan	14,910,352	$503	24
9	Guangzhou (Canton), China	14,043,500	$912	44
10	Tianjin, China	13,866,009	$857	41
11	Tokyo, Japan	13,613,660	$1,654	80
12	Suzhou, China	12,748,262	$884	43
13	Moscow, Russia	12,700,000	$1,811	87
14	Zhengzhou, China	12,600,574	$662	32
15	Shenzhen, China	12,528,300	$1,107	53
16	Wuhan, China	12,450,000	$807	39
17	Mumbai (Bombay), India	12,442,373	$800	39
18	Xi'an, China	12,183,280	$757	36
19	Haroonabad, Pakistan	11,624,219	$510	24
20	Sao Paulo, Brazil	11,451,999	$1,115	54
21	Baoding, China	11,437,217	$710	34
22	Jakarta, Indonesia	11,337,563	$802	38
23	Shijiazhuang, China	11,235,086	$684	33
24	Lahore, Pakistan	11,126,285	$515	25
25	Lagos, Nigeria	10,404,112	$949	46
26	Hangzhou, China	10,360,000	$1,001	48
27	Qingdao, Shandong, China	10,071,722	$781	37
28	Harbin, China	10,009,854	$1,140	55
29	Lima, Peru	9,989,369	$1,062	51
30	Seoul, South Korea	9,509,458	$1,844	88

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 10, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Affordability is based on the Cost of Living Index, which compares average expenses such as housing, food, transportation, and services. Cities are grouped by population size to allow fair comparisons within similar urban categories.

Larger cities often have higher housing demand, stronger job markets, and greater infrastructure costs, which can increase living expenses. Smaller cities may offer lower housing and daily costs but sometimes fewer economic opportunities.

Not always. While small cities are often more affordable, factors like salary levels, job availability, quality of life, and services should also be considered. This ranking helps you compare affordability within each city size category.