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
241	Wonju, South Korea	340,196	68
242	Yangsan, South Korea	335,474	68
243	Wenling, China	329,800	33
244	Asahikawa, Japan	329,306	55
245	Koriyama, Japan	327,692	55
246	Maebashi, Japan	324,644	55
247	Naha, Japan	317,625	66
248	Akita, Japan	307,672	55
249	Iksan, South Korea	307,000	63
250	Kurume, Japan	303,316	44
251	Yangshuo, China	300,000	33
252	Morioka, Japan	289,731	55
253	Yeosu, South Korea	288,988	64
254	Ibaraki, Japan	287,730	52
255	Fukushima, Japan	282,693	55
256	Chuncheon, South Korea	280,061	54
257	Tsu, Japan	279,241	54
258	Aomori, Japan	275,192	55
259	Mito, Japan	271,047	54
260	Chiayi, Taiwan	269,874	49
261	Ichihara, Japan	269,524	55
262	Fukui, Japan	267,428	44
263	Hiratsuka, Japan	258,422	57
264	Gyeongju, South Korea	258,156	54
265	Geoje, South Korea	254,073	77
266	Tokushima, Japan	252,391	58
267	Bortala, China	246,706	33
268	Mokpo, South Korea	237,739	64
269	Tsukuba, Japan	230,398	50
270	Atsugi, Japan	223,705	53

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.