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
61	Xinxiang, China	5,707,801	35
62	Bangkok, Thailand	5,666,264	53
63	Nanchong, China	5,607,565	32
64	Singapore, Singapore	5,535,002	179
65	Xiangyang, China	5,500,307	36
66	Shantou, China	5,389,328	35
67	Qiqihar, China	5,367,003	36
68	Jinhua, China	5,361,572	32
69	Yuncheng, China	5,300,000	33
70	Changsha, China	5,289,000	38
71	Changzhou, China	5,278,121	35
72	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	5,188,286	89
73	Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar	5,160,512	40
74	Nanchang, China	5,042,566	35
75	Pingdingshan, China	5,000,000	36
76	Guilin, China	4,931,137	34
77	Shaoxing, China	4,912,239	34
78	Mianyang, Sichuan, China	4,868,243	34
79	Zhangzhou, China	4,809,983	36
80	Huai'an, China	4,799,889	36
81	Jiujiang, China	4,728,778	38
82	Zibo, China	4,708,400	36
83	Chennai (Madras), India	4,681,087	24
84	Kaifeng, China	4,676,159	35
85	Chenzhou, China	4,667,134	36
86	Huizhou, China	4,597,002	35
87	Lucknow, India	4,588,455	20
88	Yangzhou, China	4,559,797	31
89	Izmir, Turkey	4,493,242	63
90	Kolkata (Calcutta), India	4,486,679	22

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.