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
121	Zaozhuang, China	2,125,000	36
122	Quzhou, China	2,122,661	35
123	Kunshan, China	2,092,496	36
124	Nanyang, China	2,085,680	36
125	Dongying, China	2,035,300	36
126	Sapporo, Japan	1,973,395	72
127	Huaibei, China	1,970,265	36
128	Putian, China	1,954,000	36
129	Luoyang, China	1,926,000	31
130	Tainan, Taiwan	1,886,033	54
131	Yantai, China	1,871,000	37
132	Cixi, China	1,829,488	36
133	Changshu, China	1,677,050	36
134	Beihai, China	1,617,500	36
135	Fukuoka, Japan	1,612,392	65
136	Zhanjiang, China	1,612,000	36
137	Chongqing, China	1,564,449	31
138	Tengzhou, China	1,553,200	36
139	Anshan, China	1,543,696	28
140	Kawasaki, Japan	1,538,262	82
141	Daejeon, South Korea	1,537,324	66
142	Kobe, Japan	1,537,272	62
143	Bozhou, China	1,537,231	34
144	Kyoto, Japan	1,475,183	65
145	Gwangju, South Korea	1,467,996	70
146	Wuwei, China	1,464,955	36
147	Baoji, China	1,438,000	32
148	Zhangjiagang, China	1,432,044	38
149	Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia	1,401,200	57
150	Panjin, China	1,389,691	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.