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
211	Matsudo, Japan	485,803	54
212	Oita, Japan	475,614	45
213	Jeju, South Korea	469,279	67
214	Kanazawa, Japan	465,699	53
215	Uijeongbu, South Korea	463,077	55
216	Fukuyama, Japan	460,930	51
217	Amagasaki, Japan	459,593	55
218	Hsinchu, Taiwan	453,120	53
219	Tonghua, China	446,917	29
220	Takamatsu, Japan	426,514	54
221	Toyota, Japan	424,956	54
222	Toyama, Japan	421,259	53
223	Kashiwa, Japan	417,394	56
224	Nagasaki, Japan	409,118	55
225	Gifu, Japan	404,352	54
226	Hirakata, Japan	402,495	55
227	Miyazaki, Japan	401,339	50
228	Zhongli City, Taiwan	396,453	45
229	Toyonaka, Japan	394,788	52
230	Yokosuka, Japan	388,078	55
231	Okazaki, Japan	382,846	55
232	Ichinomiya, Japan	379,728	55
233	Toyohashi, Japan	374,589	49
234	Nagano, Japan	372,760	54
235	Keelung, Taiwan	372,100	44
236	Wakayama, Japan	362,163	57
237	Nara, Japan	355,280	55
238	Kawagoe, Japan	350,745	54
239	Otsu, Japan	341,314	59
240	Jinju, South Korea	340,548	65

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.