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	19
212	Changshu, China	1,677,050	33
213	Mecca, Saudi Arabia	1,675,368	45
214	Caloocan, Philippines	1,661,584	27
215	Davao, Philippines	1,632,991	37
216	Beihai, China	1,617,500	33
217	Fukuoka, Japan	1,612,392	52
218	Zhanjiang, China	1,612,000	33
219	Siliguri, India	1,572,000	14
220	Shiraz, Iran	1,565,572	25
221	Chongqing, China	1,564,449	33
222	Tabriz, Iran	1,558,693	19
223	Semarang, Indonesia	1,555,984	27
224	Tengzhou, China	1,553,200	33
225	Anshan, China	1,543,696	29
226	Kawasaki, Japan	1,538,262	68
227	Daejeon, South Korea	1,537,324	60
228	Kobe, Japan	1,537,272	68
229	Bozhou, China	1,537,231	30
230	Sanaa, Yemen	1,527,861	47
231	Agra, India	1,500,000	18
232	Nashik, India	1,486,000	17
233	Almaty, Kazakhstan	1,475,400	63
234	Kyoto, Japan	1,475,183	56
235	Gwangju, South Korea	1,467,996	59
236	Wuwei, China	1,464,955	33
237	Baoji, China	1,438,000	32
238	Zhangjiagang, China	1,432,044	33
239	Makassar, Indonesia	1,427,619	30
240	Damascus, Syria	1,414,913	40

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: August 25, 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.