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
211	Madurai, India	1,700,000	22
212	Changshu, China	1,677,050	36
213	Mecca, Saudi Arabia	1,675,368	53
214	Caloocan, Philippines	1,661,584	34
215	Davao, Philippines	1,632,991	41
216	Beihai, China	1,617,500	36
217	Fukuoka, Japan	1,612,392	65
218	Zhanjiang, China	1,612,000	36
219	Siliguri, India	1,572,000	17
220	Shiraz, Iran	1,565,572	28
221	Chongqing, China	1,564,449	31
222	Tabriz, Iran	1,558,693	33
223	Semarang, Indonesia	1,555,984	33
224	Tengzhou, China	1,553,200	36
225	Anshan, China	1,543,696	28
226	Kawasaki, Japan	1,538,262	82
227	Daejeon, South Korea	1,537,324	66
228	Kobe, Japan	1,537,272	62
229	Bozhou, China	1,537,231	34
230	Sanaa, Yemen	1,527,861	45
231	Agra, India	1,500,000	20
232	Nashik, India	1,486,000	22
233	Almaty, Kazakhstan	1,475,400	53
234	Kyoto, Japan	1,475,183	65
235	Gwangju, South Korea	1,467,996	70
236	Wuwei, China	1,464,955	36
237	Baoji, China	1,438,000	32
238	Zhangjiagang, China	1,432,044	38
239	Makassar, Indonesia	1,427,619	33
240	Damascus, Syria	1,414,913	37

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.