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
1	Jakarta, Indonesia	11,337,563	42
2	Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam	9,456,700	41
3	Hanoi, Vietnam	8,587,100	38
4	Bangkok, Thailand	5,666,264	53
5	Singapore, Singapore	5,535,002	179
6	Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar	5,160,512	40
7	Bulacan, Philippines	3,700,000	35
8	Quezon City, Philippines	2,936,116	45
9	Surabaya, Indonesia	2,765,487	35
10	Bandung, Indonesia	2,390,120	32
11	Bekasi, Indonesia	2,334,871	38
12	Tangerang, Indonesia	2,185,304	40
13	Hai Phong, Vietnam	2,105,000	34
14	Medan, Indonesia	2,097,610	32
15	Phnom Penh, Cambodia	2,009,264	47
16	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	1,982,112	53
17	Manila, Philippines	1,780,148	49
18	Depok, Indonesia	1,738,570	26
19	Palembang, Indonesia	1,708,413	33
20	Caloocan, Philippines	1,661,584	34
21	Davao, Philippines	1,632,991	41
22	Semarang, Indonesia	1,555,984	33
23	Makassar, Indonesia	1,427,619	33
24	South Tangerang, Indonesia	1,290,322	40
25	Can Tho, Vietnam	1,258,900	34
26	Da Nang, Vietnam	1,245,200	35
27	Batam, Indonesia	1,196,396	34
28	Hue, Vietnam	1,166,500	25
29	Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia	1,047,356	46
30	Pekanbaru, Indonesia	1,020,308	34

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.