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
391	Sonipat, India	50,000	15
392	Jharsuguda, India	50,000	18
393	Varkala, India	50,000	19
394	North Lakhimpur, India	50,000	19
395	Birendranagar, Nepal	47,914	20
396	Dungarpur, India	47,700	19
397	Perinthalmanna, Kerala, India	44,613	19
398	Mandvi, India	42,355	17
399	Kalutara, Sri Lanka	39,600	27
400	Solan, India	39,256	20
401	Bentota, Sri Lanka	37,000	33
402	Beruwala, Sri Lanka	35,300	26
403	Daman, India	35,000	21
404	Kurunegala, Sri Lanka	30,300	22
405	Wattala, Sri Lanka	30,200	27
406	Baglung, Nepal	29,360	22
407	Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka	27,500	26
408	Kalmunai, Sri Lanka	25,000	33
409	Homagama, Sri Lanka	25,000	26
410	Kish, Iran	24,819	26
411	Gampaha, Sri Lanka	20,000	25
412	Weligama, Sri Lanka	20,000	37
413	Battaramulla, Sri Lanka	20,000	26
414	Kataragama, Sri Lanka	20,000	26
415	Kegalle, Sri Lanka	17,900	26
416	Hatton, Sri Lanka	16,200	26
417	Nuh, India	16,000	19
418	Ragama, Sri Lanka	15,000	26
419	Horana, Sri Lanka	15,000	26
420	Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka	15,000	26

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.