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
301	Yilan, Taiwan	95,907	$1,035	50
302	Miaoli, Taiwan	89,892	$834	40
303	Gyoda, Japan	81,582	$1,183	59
304	Taipa, Macao (China)	78,497	$2,037	97
305	Darkhan, Mongolia	74,738	$642	31
306	Nago, Okinawa, Japan	63,554	$1,237	59
307	Itoman, Japan	61,007	$1,185	56
308	Shiso, Japan	36,610	$1,052	50
309	Yamanashi, Japan	34,494	$1,178	58
310	Nalaikh, Mongolia	30,049	$902	43
311	Tsushima Island, Japan	28,000	$1,241	59
312	Shiga, Japan	23,836	$1,237	59
313	Kinmen, Taiwan	12,568	$1,074	51
314	Mandalgovi, Mongolia	10,888	$644	31
315	Kamiyama, Japan	5,300	$1,236	59

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.