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
1	Jakarta, Indonesia	11,337,563	$797	38
2	Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam	9,456,700	$850	41
3	Hanoi, Vietnam	8,587,100	$807	38
4	Bangkok, Thailand	5,666,264	$1,107	53
5	Singapore, Singapore	5,535,002	$3,594	171
6	Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar	5,160,512	$768	37
7	Negros, Philippines	4,414,131	$721	34
8	Bulacan, Philippines	3,700,000	$628	30
9	Pangasinan, Philippines	3,188,540	$782	37
10	Quezon City, Philippines	2,936,116	$848	41
11	Surabaya, Indonesia	2,765,487	$682	33
12	Bandung, Indonesia	2,390,120	$624	30
13	Bekasi, Indonesia	2,334,871	$659	31
14	Tangerang, Indonesia	2,185,304	$611	29
15	Hai Phong, Vietnam	2,105,000	$488	23
16	Medan, Indonesia	2,097,610	$601	29
17	Phnom Penh, Cambodia	2,009,264	$1,080	52
18	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	1,982,112	$1,073	51
19	Manila, Philippines	1,780,148	$922	44
20	Depok, Indonesia	1,738,570	$530	25
21	Palembang, Indonesia	1,708,413	$612	29
22	Caloocan, Philippines	1,661,584	$683	34
23	Davao, Philippines	1,632,991	$802	38
24	Semarang, Indonesia	1,555,984	$597	28
25	Makassar, Indonesia	1,427,619	$637	31
26	South Tangerang, Indonesia	1,290,322	$651	31
27	Bien Hoa, Vietnam	1,272,235	$680	32
28	Can Tho, Vietnam	1,258,900	$724	35
29	Da Nang, Vietnam	1,245,200	$895	43
30	Batam, Indonesia	1,196,396	$584	28

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 3, 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.