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
181	Cheongju, South Korea	835,669	$1,398	66
182	Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China	831,113	$728	35
183	Niigata, Japan	811,639	$729	35
184	Benxi, China	809,655	$712	34
185	Hamamatsu, Japan	797,033	$786	38
186	Korla, China	779,352	$683	32
187	Kumamoto, Japan	738,865	$1,329	63
188	Sagamihara, Japan	725,493	$1,255	60
189	Okayama, Japan	719,474	$989	47
190	Shizuoka, Japan	701,803	$1,144	55
191	Tieling, China	699,675	$762	36
192	Ansan, South Korea	677,710	$1,372	66
193	Cheonan, South Korea	658,486	$1,471	71
194	Jeonju, South Korea	653,387	$1,190	57
195	Funabashi, Japan	627,006	$1,239	57
196	Macao, Macao (China)	622,567	$2,152	104
197	Linfen, China	617,000	$707	35
198	Taizhou, China	615,000	$775	37
199	Kagoshima, Japan	593,128	$1,135	55
200	Anyang, South Korea	587,764	$1,390	66
201	Hachioji, Japan	555,517	$1,418	68
202	Suginami-ku, Japan	540,180	$1,188	59
203	Himeji, Japan	535,571	$1,273	62
204	Gimhae, South Korea	532,132	$1,544	74
205	Utsunomiya, Japan	519,217	$1,295	60
206	Pohang, South Korea	514,869	$1,493	71
207	Matsuyama, Japan	511,192	$1,310	61
208	Ichikawa, Japan	496,676	$1,187	57
209	Karamay, China	490,348	$735	35
210	Pyeongtaek, South Korea	489,081	$1,445	69

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.