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
271	Tsukuba, Japan	230,398	$1,118	53
272	Chang-hua, Taiwan	226,564	$847	40
273	Atsugi, Japan	223,705	$1,272	60
274	Rui'an, China	213,600	$716	34
275	Icheon, South Korea	213,059	$1,580	76
276	Zhubei City, Taiwan	211,746	$1,018	49
277	Chungju, South Korea	208,529	$1,451	70
278	Pingtung city, Taiwan	201,644	$884	42
279	Yamaguchi, Japan	193,966	$1,189	57
280	Tottori, Japan	193,717	$1,191	56
281	Anseong-si, South Korea	181,319	$1,433	69
282	Kamakura, Japan	172,710	$1,229	57
283	Obihiro, Japan	166,536	$1,216	59
284	Andong, South Korea	166,274	$1,404	67
285	Ube, Japan	162,570	$1,238	59
286	Seogwipo, South Korea	155,641	$1,428	69
287	Ongjin, North Korea	152,878	$714	34
288	Gimcheon, South Korea	143,056	$1,414	67
289	Okinawa, Japan	142,752	$1,371	66
290	Jecheon, South Korea	136,432	$1,545	74
291	Narita, Japan	131,613	$1,244	58
292	Ebina, Japan	130,678	$1,151	55
293	Sacheon, South Korea	117,500	$1,432	69
294	Beppu, Japan	115,321	$975	47
295	Gongju, South Korea	110,428	$1,545	74
296	Douliu, Taiwan	108,401	$1,101	53
297	Taitung, Taiwan	106,368	$1,010	48
298	Hua-lien, Taiwan	105,034	$1,053	50
299	Boryeong, South Korea	103,620	$1,487	71
300	Sangju, South Korea	100,947	$1,411	67

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

Last update: November 10, 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.