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	34
183	Benxi, China	809,655	31
184	Hamamatsu, Japan	797,033	53
185	Korla, China	779,352	30
186	Kumamoto, Japan	738,865	58
187	Sagamihara, Japan	725,493	56
188	Okayama, Japan	719,474	43
189	Shizuoka, Japan	701,803	51
190	Tieling, China	699,675	33
191	Ansan, South Korea	677,710	60
192	Cheonan, South Korea	658,486	65
193	Jeonju, South Korea	653,387	51
194	Funabashi, Japan	627,006	55
195	Macao, Macao (China)	622,567	98
196	Linfen, China	617,000	33
197	Taizhou, China	615,000	36
198	Kagoshima, Japan	593,128	51
199	Anyang, South Korea	587,764	62
200	Hachioji, Japan	555,517	61
201	Suginami-ku, Japan	540,180	55
202	Himeji, Japan	535,571	58
203	Gimhae, South Korea	532,132	68
204	Utsunomiya, Japan	519,217	58
205	Pohang, South Korea	514,869	60
206	Matsuyama, Japan	511,192	55
207	Ichikawa, Japan	496,676	55
208	Karamay, China	490,348	33
209	Pyeongtaek, South Korea	489,081	64
210	Nishinomiya, Japan	488,873	55

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.