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
181	Medan, Indonesia	2,097,610	32
182	Kunshan, China	2,092,496	36
183	Nanyang, China	2,085,680	36
184	Kocaeli, Turkey	2,079,072	50
185	Dongying, China	2,035,300	36
186	Gujranwala, Pakistan	2,027,001	18
187	Phnom Penh, Cambodia	2,009,264	47
188	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	1,982,112	53
189	Sapporo, Japan	1,973,395	72
190	Huaibei, China	1,970,265	36
191	Peshawar, Pakistan	1,970,042	19
192	Isfahan, Iran	1,961,260	24
193	Putian, China	1,954,000	36
194	Luoyang, China	1,926,000	31
195	Tainan, Taiwan	1,886,033	54
196	Multan, Pakistan	1,871,843	21
197	Yantai, China	1,871,000	37
198	Thane, India	1,841,488	29
199	Cixi, China	1,829,488	36
200	Diyarbakir, Turkey	1,804,880	46
201	Bhopal, India	1,800,000	20
202	Manila, Philippines	1,780,148	49
203	Mersin, Turkey	1,773,852	58
204	Depok, Indonesia	1,738,570	26
205	Hyderabad, Pakistan	1,732,698	23
206	Al Hillah, Iraq	1,729,666	41
207	Ghaziabad, India	1,729,000	23
208	Erbil, Iraq	1,713,461	51
209	Karaj, Iran	1,712,000	27
210	Palembang, Indonesia	1,708,413	33

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.