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	Shanghai, China	24,870,895	60
2	Beijing (Pekin), China	21,893,095	54
3	Chengdu, China	20,937,757	34
4	Guangzhou (Canton), China	14,043,500	43
5	Tianjin, China	13,866,009	40
6	Tokyo, Japan	13,613,660	85
7	Suzhou, China	12,748,262	49
8	Zhengzhou, China	12,600,574	36
9	Shenzhen, China	12,528,300	51
10	Wuhan, China	12,450,000	40
11	Xi'an, China	12,183,280	35
12	Baoding, China	11,437,217	29
13	Shijiazhuang, China	11,235,086	32
14	Hangzhou, China	10,360,000	45
15	Qingdao, Shandong, China	10,071,722	39
16	Harbin, China	10,009,854	44
17	Seoul, South Korea	9,509,458	88
18	Foshan, China	9,498,863	37
19	Handan, China	9,413,990	35
20	Hefei, China	9,369,881	38
21	Nanjing, China	9,314,685	42
22	Wenzhou, China	9,300,000	32
23	Weifang, China	9,277,200	29
24	Jinan, China	9,202,432	37
25	Shenyang, China	9,199,601	34
26	Xuzhou, China	9,083,790	29
27	Changchun, China	9,066,906	37
28	Zhoukou, China	8,953,172	36
29	Heze, China	8,795,939	36
30	Nanning, China	8,741,584	35

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.