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
181	Chiang Mai, Thailand	127,240	43
182	Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand	126,391	38
183	San Juan, Philippines	126,347	40
184	Vinh Yen, Vietnam	125,858	37
185	Santa Cruz, Laguna, Philippines	123,574	38
186	Bayawan City, Philippines	122,747	40
187	Hoi An, Vietnam	120,000	38
188	Pattaya, Thailand	119,532	49
189	Kampong Cham, Cambodia	118,242	29
190	Magelang, Indonesia	118,227	29
191	Banyuwangi, Indonesia	117,558	26
192	Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines	116,771	36
193	Naga, Philippines	115,750	38
194	Khon Kaen, Thailand	114,459	39
195	Quang Ngai, Vietnam	112,384	27
196	Putrajaya, Malaysia	109,202	40
197	Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand	102,152	53
198	Cavite, Philippines	100,674	30
199	Kampar, Malaysia	98,878	42
200	Sibolga, Indonesia	95,471	30
201	Labuan, Malaysia	95,120	45
202	Dong Hoi, Vietnam	91,601	35
203	Maasin City, Philippines	85,560	39
204	Tagaytay, Philippines	85,330	39
205	Rangsit, Thailand	85,260	43
206	Nakhon Sawan, Thailand	82,305	47
207	Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam	80,366	37
208	Phuket, Thailand	79,308	63
209	Chiang Rai, Thailand	77,672	42
210	Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand	74,977	40

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.