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
151	Hong Kong, Hong Kong (China)	1,367,900	140
152	Xianyang, China	1,324,612	31
153	Fushun, China	1,322,098	36
154	Yiwu, China	1,234,015	36
155	Liaocheng, China	1,230,000	34
156	Maoming, China	1,217,000	35
157	Suwon, South Korea	1,203,000	69
158	Hiroshima, Japan	1,200,754	52
159	Saitama, Japan	1,182,115	57
160	Chifeng, China	1,175,391	36
161	Zhoushan, China	1,157,817	33
162	Langfang, China	1,147,591	33
163	Anyang, China	1,147,000	34
164	Rizhao, China	1,143,000	37
165	Ulsan, South Korea	1,129,827	71
166	Zhucheng, China	1,086,222	36
167	Sendai, Japan	1,082,159	62
168	Changwon, South Korea	1,055,839	74
169	Sanya, China	1,031,396	38
170	Yongin, South Korea	1,004,081	67
171	Chiba, Japan	974,951	66
172	Seongnam, South Korea	967,510	84
173	Mudanjiang, China	965,154	36
174	Setagaya-ku, Japan	943,664	59
175	Kitakyushu, Japan	939,029	64
176	Ankang, China	894,853	33
177	Lhasa, China	867,891	35
178	Gongzhuling, China	862,313	29
179	Bucheon, South Korea	848,191	75
180	Cheongju, South Korea	835,669	64

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.