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
91	Izmir, Turkey	4,493,242	$1,218	58
92	Kolkata (Calcutta), India	4,486,679	$436	21
93	Jiangmen, China	4,448,871	$513	25
94	Negros, Philippines	4,414,131	$721	34
95	Lianyungang, China	4,393,914	$747	36
96	Zhangjiakou, China	4,345,491	$779	37
97	Guiyang, China	4,324,561	$719	34
98	Anqing, China	4,165,284	$660	31
99	Liuzhou, China	4,157,934	$765	37
100	Yichang, China	4,059,686	$716	34
101	Urumqi, China	4,054,369	$605	29
102	New Taipei City, Taiwan	4,004,367	$1,177	56
103	Zhuzhou, China	4,000,500	$714	34
104	Amman, Jordan	4,000,000	$1,199	57
105	Chuzhou, China	3,987,054	$706	34
106	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	3,790,000	$2,889	139
107	Yokohama, Japan	3,777,491	$1,360	65
108	Binzhou, China	3,748,500	$786	37
109	Yulin, China	3,700,000	$704	35
110	Bulacan, Philippines	3,700,000	$628	30
111	Lanzhou, China	3,688,400	$719	34
112	Wuhu, China	3,644,420	$691	33
113	Jilin, China	3,623,713	$746	36
114	Busan, South Korea	3,586,079	$1,812	87
115	Kunming, Yunnan, China	3,583,000	$778	37
116	Jiaxing, China	3,563,700	$639	30
117	Jiaozuo, China	3,539,860	$670	32
118	Xiamen, China	3,531,000	$844	40
119	Taiyuan, China	3,525,300	$599	28
120	Hohhot, China	3,446,100	$764	37

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.