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	Price per month for a nomad	Living Index
1	Shanghai, China	24,870,895	$1,246	60
2	Beijing (Pekin), China	21,893,095	$1,190	57
3	Dhaka, Bangladesh	21,741,000	$422	20
4	Chengdu, China	20,937,757	$723	35
5	Delhi, India	16,787,941	$537	26
6	Istanbul, Turkey	15,701,602	$1,519	73
7	Karachi, Pakistan	14,910,352	$496	24
8	Guangzhou (Canton), China	14,043,500	$903	43
9	Tianjin, China	13,866,009	$862	41
10	Tokyo, Japan	13,613,660	$1,686	80
11	Suzhou, China	12,748,262	$888	43
12	Zhengzhou, China	12,600,574	$668	32
13	Shenzhen, China	12,528,300	$1,096	53
14	Wuhan, China	12,450,000	$819	39
15	Mumbai (Bombay), India	12,442,373	$811	38
16	Xi'an, China	12,183,280	$755	36
17	Haroonabad, Pakistan	11,624,219	$511	24
18	Baoding, China	11,437,217	$703	34
19	Jakarta, Indonesia	11,337,563	$797	38
20	Shijiazhuang, China	11,235,086	$684	33
21	Lahore, Pakistan	11,126,285	$510	24
22	Hangzhou, China	10,360,000	$997	47
23	Qingdao, Shandong, China	10,071,722	$782	37
24	Harbin, China	10,009,854	$1,166	56
25	Seoul, South Korea	9,509,458	$1,829	87
26	Foshan, China	9,498,863	$786	37
27	Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam	9,456,700	$850	41
28	Handan, China	9,413,990	$673	32
29	Hefei, China	9,369,881	$769	37
30	Nanjing, China	9,314,685	$844	40

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.