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
61	Las Pinas, Philippines	606,293	42
62	Bacoor, Philippines	600,609	39
63	Makati, Philippines	582,602	61
64	Bacolod, Philippines	561,875	37
65	Cimahi, Indonesia	561,386	32
66	Kuantan, Malaysia	548,014	39
67	Sungai Petani, Malaysia	545,053	42
68	Muntinlupa, Philippines	543,445	46
69	Calamba, Philippines	539,671	36
70	Ampang Jaya, Malaysia	531,904	43
71	Surakarta, Indonesia	503,421	33
72	Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia	500,425	43
73	Lapu-Lapu, Philippines	497,604	43
74	Imus, Philippines	496,794	38
75	Angeles, Philippines	462,928	43
76	Iloilo, Philippines	457,626	35
77	Marikina, Philippines	456,059	34
78	General Trias, Philippines	450,583	37
79	Cheras, Malaysia	440,000	42
80	Mandaluyong, Philippines	425,758	43
81	Alor Setar, Malaysia	423,868	33
82	Manado, Indonesia	423,257	30
83	Tawau, Malaysia	420,806	43
84	Pasay, Philippines	416,522	46
85	Santa Rosa, Philippines	414,812	37
86	Binan City, Philippines	407,037	44
87	Mataram, Indonesia	402,843	29
88	Batu Pahat, Malaysia	401,210	47
89	Puchong, Malaysia	400,000	41
90	Taytay, Philippines	386,451	43

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

Last update: February 24, 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.