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
1	Shanghai, China	24,870,895	$1,246	60
2	Beijing (Pekin), China	21,893,095	$1,190	57
3	Chengdu, China	20,937,757	$723	35
4	Guangzhou (Canton), China	14,043,500	$903	43
5	Tianjin, China	13,866,009	$862	41
6	Tokyo, Japan	13,613,660	$1,686	80
7	Suzhou, China	12,748,262	$888	43
8	Zhengzhou, China	12,600,574	$668	32
9	Shenzhen, China	12,528,300	$1,096	53
10	Wuhan, China	12,450,000	$819	39
11	Xi'an, China	12,183,280	$755	36
12	Baoding, China	11,437,217	$703	34
13	Shijiazhuang, China	11,235,086	$684	33
14	Hangzhou, China	10,360,000	$997	47
15	Qingdao, Shandong, China	10,071,722	$782	37
16	Harbin, China	10,009,854	$1,166	56
17	Seoul, South Korea	9,509,458	$1,829	87
18	Foshan, China	9,498,863	$786	37
19	Handan, China	9,413,990	$673	32
20	Hefei, China	9,369,881	$769	37
21	Nanjing, China	9,314,685	$844	40
22	Wenzhou, China	9,300,000	$624	30
23	Weifang, China	9,277,200	$567	27
24	Jinan, China	9,202,432	$645	31
25	Shenyang, China	9,199,601	$706	34
26	Xuzhou, China	9,083,790	$603	29
27	Changchun, China	9,066,906	$915	44
28	Zhoukou, China	8,953,172	$753	36
29	Heze, China	8,795,939	$697	33
30	Nanning, China	8,741,584	$743	35

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.