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
181	Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China	831,113	33
182	Niigata, Japan	811,639	57
183	Benxi, China	809,655	33
184	Hamamatsu, Japan	797,033	55
185	Korla, China	779,352	36
186	Kumamoto, Japan	738,865	65
187	Sagamihara, Japan	725,493	68
188	Okayama, Japan	719,474	52
189	Shizuoka, Japan	701,803	65
190	Tieling, China	699,675	36
191	Ansan, South Korea	677,710	72
192	Cheonan, South Korea	658,486	63
193	Jeonju, South Korea	653,387	62
194	Funabashi, Japan	627,006	60
195	Macao, Macao (China)	622,567	88
196	Linfen, China	617,000	36
197	Taizhou, China	615,000	36
198	Kagoshima, Japan	593,128	60
199	Anyang, South Korea	587,764	66
200	Hachioji, Japan	555,517	68
201	Suginami-ku, Japan	540,180	59
202	Himeji, Japan	535,571	65
203	Gimhae, South Korea	532,132	75
204	Utsunomiya, Japan	519,217	65
205	Pohang, South Korea	514,869	67
206	Matsuyama, Japan	511,192	63
207	Ichikawa, Japan	496,676	59
208	Karamay, China	490,348	36
209	Pyeongtaek, South Korea	489,081	73
210	Nishinomiya, Japan	488,873	65

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.