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
271	Gonbad-e Kavus, Iran	151,910	26
272	Hanumangarh, India	151,100	18
273	Moga, India	150,411	17
274	Jaranwala, Pakistan	150,380	21
275	Jamalpur, Bangladesh	150,172	16
276	Muzaffarabad, Pakistan	149,913	14
277	Attock, Pakistan	146,396	17
278	Mohali, India	146,213	21
279	Abohar, India	145,238	19
280	Tiruvannamalai, India	145,200	18
281	Pabna, Bangladesh	144,442	16
282	Bhuj, India	143,200	18
283	Shillong, India	143,000	22
284	Negombo, Sri Lanka	142,449	21
285	Bhimavaram, India	142,184	19
286	Mandsaur, India	141,700	18
287	Rudrapur, India	140,857	18
288	Kumbakonam, India	140,100	18
289	Dibrugarh, India	140,000	22
290	Zabol, Iran	140,000	25
291	Chhindwara, India	138,200	17
292	Srikakulam, India	137,944	17
293	Bankura, India	137,400	19
294	Birgunj, Nepal	135,904	19
295	Andimeshk, Iran	135,116	27
296	Palakkad, India	131,000	14
297	Noakhali, Bangladesh	130,842	17
298	Deoria, India	129,570	19
299	Saidpur, Bangladesh	127,104	16
300	Hardoi, India	126,900	19

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.