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
151	Bac Giang, Vietnam	194,171	35
152	Bago, Philippines	191,210	34
153	Malaybalay, Philippines	190,712	35
154	Pak Kret, Thailand	190,272	44
155	Salatiga, Indonesia	190,000	29
156	Calbayog, Philippines	183,851	34
157	Cam Pha, Vietnam	182,137	35
158	Nam Dinh, Vietnam	179,229	36
159	Madiun, Indonesia	175,767	26
160	Koronadal City, Philippines	174,942	25
161	Dagupan, Philippines	174,302	35
162	Polomolok, Philippines	172,605	29
163	Siem Reap, Cambodia	171,800	37
164	Surigao, Philippines	171,107	34
165	Sorsogon City, Philippines	168,110	34
166	Roxas, Philippines	167,003	33
167	Tuguegarao, Philippines	166,334	21
168	Hat Yai, Thailand	156,802	34
169	Cadiz, Philippines	154,723	34
170	Siargao, Philippines	150,000	36
171	Metro, Lampung, Indonesia	149,361	33
172	Ninh Binh, Vietnam	148,406	34
173	Calapan City, Philippines	145,786	34
174	Phu Quoc, Vietnam	144,460	34
175	Timika, Indonesia	142,000	29
176	Ozamiz, Philippines	141,828	33
177	Dumaguete, Philippines	134,103	37
178	Surat Thani, Thailand	132,040	37
179	Dipolog, Philippines	130,759	28
180	Udon Thani, Thailand	130,531	39

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

Last update: August 25, 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.