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
121	Taoyuan, Taiwan	2,147,763	$1,217	58
122	Zaozhuang, China	2,125,000	$677	32
123	Quzhou, China	2,122,661	$725	34
124	Kunshan, China	2,092,496	$716	34
125	Nanyang, China	2,085,680	$713	34
126	Dongying, China	2,035,300	$716	34
127	Sapporo, Japan	1,973,395	$1,407	68
128	Huaibei, China	1,970,265	$714	34
129	Putian, China	1,954,000	$513	25
130	Luoyang, China	1,926,000	$697	34
131	Tainan, Taiwan	1,886,033	$1,181	57
132	Yantai, China	1,871,000	$633	30
133	Cixi, China	1,829,488	$717	34
134	Changshu, China	1,677,050	$713	34
135	Beihai, China	1,617,500	$753	35
136	Fukuoka, Japan	1,612,392	$1,306	62
137	Zhanjiang, China	1,612,000	$720	35
138	Chongqing, China	1,564,449	$702	34
139	Tengzhou, China	1,553,200	$714	34
140	Anshan, China	1,543,696	$636	30
141	Kawasaki, Japan	1,538,262	$1,484	71
142	Daejeon, South Korea	1,537,324	$1,363	65
143	Kobe, Japan	1,537,272	$1,375	66
144	Bozhou, China	1,537,231	$655	32
145	Kyoto, Japan	1,475,183	$1,296	62
146	Gwangju, South Korea	1,467,996	$1,401	67
147	Wuwei, China	1,464,955	$735	35
148	Baoji, China	1,438,000	$746	36
149	Zhangjiagang, China	1,432,044	$721	35
150	Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia	1,401,200	$1,187	57

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.