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
91	Tarlac City, Philippines	385,398	31
92	Vung Tau, Vietnam	380,000	29
93	Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia	375,424	36
94	Baguio, Philippines	366,358	39
95	Mandaue, Philippines	364,116	46
96	San Fernando, Philippines	354,666	39
97	Kuching, Malaysia	349,147	39
98	Butterworth, Malaysia	339,132	43
99	Butuan, Philippines	337,063	36
100	Lipa, Philippines	332,386	31
101	Batangas, Philippines	329,874	33
102	San Pedro, Philippines	326,001	41
103	Cotabato City, Philippines	325,079	37
104	Cainta, Philippines	322,128	51
105	Kulim, Malaysia	319,056	50
106	Cirebon, Indonesia	318,741	37
107	Pathein, Myanmar	315,600	41
108	Muar, Malaysia	314,776	50
109	Binangonan, Philippines	313,631	36
110	Hai Duong, Vietnam	312,606	37
111	Puerto Princesa, Philippines	307,079	41
112	Cabanatuan, Philippines	302,231	26
113	Mawlamyine, Myanmar	300,000	32
114	Tagum City, Philippines	296,202	38
115	Purwokerto, Indonesia	292,782	31
116	Bac Ninh, Vietnam	288,766	31
117	Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia	284,853	44
118	Selangor, Malaysia	281,717	50
119	Lucena, Philippines	278,924	25
120	Ambon, Indonesia	275,888	33

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.