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
91	Datong, China	3,318,057	33
92	Bengbu, China	3,296,408	30
93	Pyongyang, North Korea	3,255,288	12
94	Zhenjiang, China	3,210,418	32
95	Zhongshan, China	3,209,600	32
96	Huainan, China	3,033,528	33
97	Qinhuangdao, China	2,987,605	33
98	Heyuan, China	2,953,019	36
99	Huzhou, China	2,893,542	37
100	Jingmen, China	2,873,687	34
101	Haikou, China	2,873,358	37
102	Incheon, South Korea	2,870,545	60
103	Yinchuan, China	2,859,074	33
104	Weihai, China	2,804,800	29
105	Kaohsiung, Taiwan	2,777,873	51
106	Taichung, Taiwan	2,767,239	52
107	Xiangtan, China	2,748,552	33
108	Linyi, China	2,710,000	27
109	Baotou, China	2,709,378	35
110	Jinzhou, China	2,703,853	33
111	Osaka, Japan	2,691,185	61
112	Taipei, Taiwan	2,635,286	62
113	Chaozhou, China	2,568,387	29
114	Longyan, China	2,559,545	21
115	Daegu, South Korea	2,528,933	69
116	Puning, China	2,508,900	33
117	Xining, China	2,333,700	33
118	Nagoya, Japan	2,236,000	63
119	Jiamusi, China	2,156,505	33
120	Taoyuan, Taiwan	2,147,763	51

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

Last update: August 25, 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.