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	Living Index
481	Austin, TX, United States	974,447	136
482	Naples, Italy	972,212	94
483	Seongnam, South Korea	967,510	84
484	Mudanjiang, China	965,154	36
485	Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic	965,040	55
486	Cebu, Philippines	964,169	44
487	Nouakchott, Mauritania	958,399	42
488	Sfax, Tunisia	955,421	31
489	Solapur, India	951,600	16
490	Freetown, Sierra Leone	951,000	97
491	Jacksonville, NC, United States	949,611	129
492	Jacksonville, FL, United States	949,611	125
493	Krasnodar, Russia	948,827	49
494	Tangier, Morocco	947,952	44
495	Kermanshah, Iran	946,651	25
496	Setagaya-ku, Japan	943,664	59
497	Mallorca, Spain	940,332	81
498	Palawan, Philippines	939,594	39
499	Kitakyushu, Japan	939,029	64
500	Mendoza, Argentina	937,154	55

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

Last update: February 24, 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.