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
421	Bhavnagar, India	593,768	18
422	Kagoshima, Japan	593,128	60
423	Anyang, South Korea	587,764	66
424	Makati, Philippines	582,602	61
425	Taif, Saudi Arabia	579,970	46
426	Elazig, Turkey	578,789	54
427	Kutahya, Turkey	573,642	45
428	Samarkand, Uzbekistan	573,200	27
429	Karbala, Iraq	572,300	33
430	Aktobe, Kazakhstan	570,452	34
431	Bacolod, Philippines	561,875	37
432	Cimahi, Indonesia	561,386	32
433	Hachioji, Japan	555,517	68
434	Nanded, India	550,400	19
435	Kolhapur, India	549,200	18
436	Kuantan, Malaysia	548,014	39
437	Nellore, India	547,621	26
438	Sungai Petani, Malaysia	545,053	42
439	Muntinlupa, Philippines	543,445	46
440	Ajmer, India	542,600	17
441	Suginami-ku, Japan	540,180	59
442	Calamba, Philippines	539,671	36
443	Kerman, Iran	537,718	25
444	Himeji, Japan	535,571	65
445	Gimhae, South Korea	532,132	75
446	Ampang Jaya, Malaysia	531,904	43
447	Corum, Turkey	527,863	43
448	Bandar Abbas, Iran	526,648	29
449	Sylhet, Bangladesh	526,412	18
450	Arak, Iran	526,200	21

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.