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
1	Jakarta, Indonesia	11,337,563	36
2	Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam	9,456,700	38
3	Hanoi, Vietnam	8,587,100	36
4	Bangkok, Thailand	5,666,264	53
5	Singapore, Singapore	5,535,002	157
6	Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar	5,160,512	35
7	Bulacan, Philippines	3,700,000	30
8	Quezon City, Philippines	2,936,116	40
9	Surabaya, Indonesia	2,765,487	31
10	Bandung, Indonesia	2,390,120	29
11	Bekasi, Indonesia	2,334,871	30
12	Tangerang, Indonesia	2,185,304	30
13	Hai Phong, Vietnam	2,105,000	32
14	Medan, Indonesia	2,097,610	28
15	Phnom Penh, Cambodia	2,009,264	47
16	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	1,982,112	51
17	Manila, Philippines	1,780,148	44
18	Depok, Indonesia	1,738,570	24
19	Palembang, Indonesia	1,708,413	28
20	Caloocan, Philippines	1,661,584	27
21	Davao, Philippines	1,632,991	37
22	Semarang, Indonesia	1,555,984	27
23	Makassar, Indonesia	1,427,619	30
24	South Tangerang, Indonesia	1,290,322	31
25	Can Tho, Vietnam	1,258,900	32
26	Da Nang, Vietnam	1,245,200	39
27	Batam, Indonesia	1,196,396	28
28	Hue, Vietnam	1,166,500	22
29	Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia	1,047,356	45
30	Pekanbaru, Indonesia	1,020,308	29

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.