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.

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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
211	Nishinomiya, Japan	488,873	$1,247	61
212	Matsudo, Japan	485,803	$1,221	57
213	Oita, Japan	475,614	$1,354	63
214	Kanazawa, Japan	465,699	$1,310	61
215	Uijeongbu, South Korea	463,077	$1,376	66
216	Fukuyama, Japan	460,930	$1,136	54
217	Amagasaki, Japan	459,593	$1,237	58
218	Hsinchu, Taiwan	453,120	$1,115	53
219	Tonghua, China	446,917	$661	32
220	Takamatsu, Japan	426,514	$1,171	57
221	Toyota, Japan	424,956	$1,182	57
222	Toyama, Japan	421,259	$1,176	57
223	Kashiwa, Japan	417,394	$1,229	59
224	Nagasaki, Japan	409,118	$1,213	60
225	Gifu, Japan	404,352	$1,332	62
226	Hirakata, Japan	402,495	$1,216	59
227	Miyazaki, Japan	401,339	$1,115	54
228	Zhongli City, Taiwan	396,453	$998	48
229	Toyonaka, Japan	394,788	$1,219	59
230	Yokosuka, Japan	388,078	$1,212	58
231	Aichi, Japan	384,654	$1,065	51
232	Okazaki, Japan	382,846	$1,265	61
233	Ichinomiya, Japan	379,728	$1,250	58
234	Suji-gu, South Korea	374,948	$1,374	65
235	Toyohashi, Japan	374,589	$1,097	53
236	Nagano, Japan	372,760	$1,186	58
237	Keelung, Taiwan	372,100	$920	44
238	Wakayama, Japan	362,163	$1,316	61
239	Nara, Japan	355,280	$1,236	59
240	Kawagoe, Japan	350,745	$1,082	52

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.