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
1	Tashkent, Uzbekistan	2,956,384	47
2	Almaty, Kazakhstan	1,475,400	53
3	Shymkent, Kazakhstan	1,222,055	34
4	Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan	1,012,500	44
5	Ashgabat, Turkmenistan	909,000	159
6	Astana, Kazakhstan	814,400	45
7	Namangan, Uzbekistan	678,200	18
8	Samarkand, Uzbekistan	573,200	27
9	Aktobe, Kazakhstan	570,452	34
10	Karaganda, Kazakhstan	520,486	38
11	Taraz, Kazakhstan	431,160	28
12	Oskemen, Kazakhstan	354,770	37
13	Nukus, Uzbekistan	335,491	26
14	Pavlodar, Kazakhstan	334,830	34
15	Atyrau, Kazakhstan	323,295	45
16	Semey, Kazakhstan	310,456	34
17	Fergana, Uzbekistan	305,600	31
18	Aktau, Kazakhstan	273,830	35
19	Bukhara, Uzbekistan	272,500	17
20	Osh, Kyrgyzstan	270,347	28
21	Kostanay, Kazakhstan	264,446	48
22	Oral, Kazakhstan	256,960	38
23	Petropavl, Kazakhstan	222,703	34
24	Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan	206,719	31
25	Khujand, Tajikistan	181,600	34
26	Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan	169,462	40
27	Jizzax, Uzbekistan	165,000	21
28	Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan	159,760	35
29	Urganch, Uzbekistan	146,709	12
30	Chirchiq, Uzbekistan	143,600	28

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.