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 Asia Central Asia Eastern Asia Southern Asia South-Eastern Asia Western Asia

Rank	City	Population	Living Index
1	Shanghai, China	24,870,895	60
2	Beijing (Pekin), China	21,893,095	54
3	Dhaka, Bangladesh	21,741,000	21
4	Chengdu, China	20,937,757	34
5	Delhi, India	16,787,941	27
6	Istanbul, Turkey	15,701,602	72
7	Karachi, Pakistan	14,910,352	24
8	Guangzhou (Canton), China	14,043,500	43
9	Tianjin, China	13,866,009	40
10	Tokyo, Japan	13,613,660	85
11	Suzhou, China	12,748,262	49
12	Zhengzhou, China	12,600,574	36
13	Shenzhen, China	12,528,300	51
14	Wuhan, China	12,450,000	40
15	Mumbai (Bombay), India	12,442,373	38
16	Xi'an, China	12,183,280	35
17	Baoding, China	11,437,217	29
18	Jakarta, Indonesia	11,337,563	42
19	Shijiazhuang, China	11,235,086	32
20	Lahore, Pakistan	11,126,285	24
21	Hangzhou, China	10,360,000	45
22	Qingdao, Shandong, China	10,071,722	39
23	Harbin, China	10,009,854	44
24	Seoul, South Korea	9,509,458	88
25	Foshan, China	9,498,863	37
26	Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam	9,456,700	41
27	Handan, China	9,413,990	35
28	Hefei, China	9,369,881	38
29	Nanjing, China	9,314,685	42
30	Wenzhou, China	9,300,000	32

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.