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
91	Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar	5,160,512	$768	37
92	Nanchang, China	5,042,566	$656	31
93	Melbourne, Australia	5,031,195	$2,823	136
94	Pingdingshan, China	5,000,000	$694	34
95	Guilin, China	4,931,137	$662	32
96	Shaoxing, China	4,912,239	$758	36
97	Mianyang, Sichuan, China	4,868,243	$650	31
98	Sydney, Australia	4,840,600	$3,274	157
99	Zhangzhou, China	4,809,983	$718	34
100	Huai'an, China	4,799,889	$715	34
101	Jiujiang, China	4,728,778	$760	37
102	Zibo, China	4,708,400	$753	36
103	Chennai (Madras), India	4,681,087	$441	21
104	Kaifeng, China	4,676,159	$502	24
105	Chenzhou, China	4,667,134	$749	36
106	Huizhou, China	4,597,002	$769	37
107	Lucknow, India	4,588,455	$399	19
108	Yangzhou, China	4,559,797	$691	33
109	Alexandria, Egypt	4,546,231	$432	21
110	Izmir, Turkey	4,493,242	$1,218	58
111	Kolkata (Calcutta), India	4,486,679	$436	21
112	Jiangmen, China	4,448,871	$513	25
113	Johannesburg, South Africa	4,434,827	$1,406	67
114	Negros, Philippines	4,414,131	$721	34
115	Lianyungang, China	4,393,914	$747	36
116	Zhangjiakou, China	4,345,491	$779	37
117	Guiyang, China	4,324,561	$719	34
118	Anqing, China	4,165,284	$660	31
119	Liuzhou, China	4,157,934	$765	37
120	Yichang, China	4,059,686	$716	34

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

Last update: November 3, 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.