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	31
122	Quzhou, China	2,122,661	32
123	Kunshan, China	2,092,496	33
124	Nanyang, China	2,085,680	33
125	Dongying, China	2,035,300	33
126	Sapporo, Japan	1,973,395	64
127	Huaibei, China	1,970,265	33
128	Putian, China	1,954,000	24
129	Luoyang, China	1,926,000	30
130	Tainan, Taiwan	1,886,033	55
131	Yantai, China	1,871,000	29
132	Cixi, China	1,829,488	33
133	Changshu, China	1,677,050	33
134	Beihai, China	1,617,500	33
135	Fukuoka, Japan	1,612,392	52
136	Zhanjiang, China	1,612,000	33
137	Chongqing, China	1,564,449	33
138	Tengzhou, China	1,553,200	33
139	Anshan, China	1,543,696	29
140	Kawasaki, Japan	1,538,262	68
141	Daejeon, South Korea	1,537,324	60
142	Kobe, Japan	1,537,272	68
143	Bozhou, China	1,537,231	30
144	Kyoto, Japan	1,475,183	56
145	Gwangju, South Korea	1,467,996	59
146	Wuwei, China	1,464,955	33
147	Baoji, China	1,438,000	32
148	Zhangjiagang, China	1,432,044	33
149	Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia	1,401,200	54
150	Panjin, China	1,389,691	32

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.