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
91	Kedah, Malaysia	417,800	$905	44
92	Pasay, Philippines	416,522	$882	42
93	Santa Rosa, Philippines	414,812	$805	38
94	Binan City, Philippines	407,037	$818	40
95	Mataram, Indonesia	402,843	$614	29
96	Batu Pahat, Malaysia	401,210	$913	44
97	Puchong, Malaysia	400,000	$992	46
98	Taytay, Philippines	386,451	$842	40
99	Tarlac City, Philippines	385,398	$497	24
100	Vung Tau, Vietnam	380,000	$634	30
101	Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia	375,424	$902	45
102	Binh Duong, Vietnam	373,105	$575	27
103	Baguio, Philippines	366,358	$731	35
104	Mandaue, Philippines	364,116	$884	43
105	San Fernando, Philippines	354,666	$867	40
106	Kuching, Malaysia	349,147	$1,011	48
107	Iligan City, Philippines	342,618	$866	40
108	Butterworth, Malaysia	339,132	$892	44
109	Butuan, Philippines	337,063	$897	42
110	Lipa, Philippines	332,386	$668	32
111	Batangas, Philippines	329,874	$697	33
112	San Pedro, Philippines	326,001	$802	38
113	Cotabato City, Philippines	325,079	$872	42
114	Cainta, Philippines	322,128	$835	38
115	Kulim, Malaysia	319,056	$961	45
116	Cirebon, Indonesia	318,741	$730	36
117	Muar, Malaysia	314,776	$966	48
118	Binangonan, Philippines	313,631	$761	38
119	Hai Duong, Vietnam	312,606	$764	37
120	Puerto Princesa, Philippines	307,079	$832	40

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.