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
91	Jiangmen, China	4,448,871	33
92	Lianyungang, China	4,393,914	34
93	Zhangjiakou, China	4,345,491	37
94	Guiyang, China	4,324,561	36
95	Anqing, China	4,165,284	33
96	Liuzhou, China	4,157,934	36
97	Yichang, China	4,059,686	36
98	Urumqi, China	4,054,369	26
99	Zhuzhou, China	4,000,500	36
100	Amman, Jordan	4,000,000	57
101	Chuzhou, China	3,987,054	34
102	Yokohama, Japan	3,777,491	71
103	Binzhou, China	3,748,500	39
104	Yulin, China	3,700,000	36
105	Bulacan, Philippines	3,700,000	35
106	Lanzhou, China	3,688,400	33
107	Wuhu, China	3,644,420	37
108	Jilin, China	3,623,713	36
109	Busan, South Korea	3,586,079	75
110	Kunming, Yunnan, China	3,583,000	41
111	Jiaxing, China	3,563,700	33
112	Jiaozuo, China	3,539,860	34
113	Xiamen, China	3,531,000	39
114	Taiyuan, China	3,525,300	31
115	Hohhot, China	3,446,100	35
116	Jeddah, Saudi Arabia	3,430,697	61
117	Hanzhong, China	3,416,196	33
118	Datong, China	3,318,057	36
119	Bengbu, China	3,296,408	33
120	Kabul, Afghanistan	3,289,000	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.