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
121	Karawang, Indonesia	273,472	25
122	Ha Long, Vietnam	270,054	37
123	Binjai, Indonesia	267,901	34
124	Kediri, Indonesia	267,435	31
125	San Pablo, Philippines	266,068	42
126	Phan Thiet, Vietnam	255,000	32
127	Nonthaburi, Thailand	254,375	44
128	Miri, Malaysia	248,877	35
129	Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam	245,951	36
130	Tacloban, Philippines	242,089	42
131	Taiping, Malaysia	241,517	34
132	Bintulu, Malaysia	240,172	40
133	Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia	239,854	34
134	Kluang, Malaysia	235,715	50
135	Jayapura, Indonesia	233,859	34
136	Olongapo, Philippines	233,040	35
137	Ormoc, Philippines	230,998	39
138	Banda Aceh, Indonesia	223,446	31
139	Dili, Timor-Leste	222,323	89
140	Palangkaraya, Indonesia	220,962	33
141	Cam Ranh, Vietnam	220,630	37
142	Bayan Lepas, Malaysia	217,600	40
143	Valencia City, Philippines	216,546	34
144	Kemaman, Malaysia	215,582	48
145	Legazpi, Philippines	209,533	38
146	Marawi, Philippines	207,010	39
147	Tuy Hoa, Vietnam	202,030	37
148	Sidoarjo, Indonesia	201,115	33
149	Pagadian, Philippines	199,060	38
150	Battambang, Cambodia	196,709	32

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.