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
361	Vavuniya, Sri Lanka	99,600	26
362	Trincomalee, Sri Lanka	99,100	26
363	Thimphu, Bhutan	98,676	23
364	Silvassa, India	98,266	20
365	Zirakpur, India	95,553	21
366	Pattoki, Pakistan	87,737	19
367	Haripur, Pakistan	85,739	21
368	Tura, India	75,000	18
369	Pardis, Iran	73,363	26
370	Nepalgunj, Nepal	72,503	20
371	Krishnagiri, India	71,323	16
372	Dambulla, Sri Lanka	68,800	26
373	Kirtipur, Nepal	65,602	22
374	Kolonnawa, Sri Lanka	64,800	26
375	Talagang, Pakistan	63,855	20
376	Siddharthanagar, Nepal	63,483	20
377	Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka	63,200	25
378	Araria, India	60,600	18
379	Abyek, Iran	60,107	27
380	Itanagar, India	60,000	20
381	Karwar, India	60,000	19
382	Baramulla, India	58,053	19
383	Rupnagar, India	57,000	19
384	Kannur, India	56,823	18
385	Dharamsala, India	56,543	20
386	Karad, India	53,900	24
387	Munshiganj, Bangladesh	53,202	16
388	Ratnapura, Sri Lanka	52,100	26
389	Karak, Pakistan	51,149	20
390	Udhampur, India	50,106	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.