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
61	Dasmarinas, Philippines	659,019	$573	28
62	San Jose del Monte, Philippines	651,813	$779	38
63	Yogyakarta, Indonesia	636,660	$588	28
64	Las Pinas, Philippines	606,293	$795	39
65	Bacoor, Philippines	600,609	$843	39
66	Makati, Philippines	582,602	$1,156	55
67	Malacca, Malaysia	579,000	$616	30
68	Nha Trang, Vietnam	579,000	$689	33
69	Kota Bharu, Malaysia	568,900	$696	33
70	Cimahi, Indonesia	561,386	$567	28
71	Kuantan, Malaysia	548,014	$835	40
72	Sungai Petani, Malaysia	545,053	$810	39
73	Muntinlupa, Philippines	543,445	$782	38
74	Calamba, Philippines	539,671	$810	39
75	Ampang Jaya, Malaysia	531,904	$1,015	49
76	Quy Nhon City, Vietnam	519,208	$699	33
77	Surakarta, Indonesia	503,421	$586	28
78	Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia	500,425	$1,009	48
79	Kota Damansara, Malaysia	500,000	$956	45
80	Lapu-Lapu, Philippines	497,604	$849	41
81	Imus, Philippines	496,794	$803	39
82	Angeles, Philippines	462,928	$916	44
83	Marikina, Philippines	456,059	$525	25
84	General Trias, Philippines	450,583	$793	39
85	Cheras, Malaysia	440,000	$1,153	55
86	Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia	439,050	$919	45
87	Mandaluyong, Philippines	425,758	$1,107	53
88	Alor Setar, Malaysia	423,868	$881	42
89	Manado, Indonesia	423,257	$566	27
90	Tawau, Malaysia	420,806	$941	45

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

Last update: November 10, 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.