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
91	Belgaum, India	600,000	18
92	Bhavnagar, India	593,768	18
93	Nanded, India	550,400	19
94	Kolhapur, India	549,200	18
95	Nellore, India	547,621	26
96	Ajmer, India	542,600	17
97	Kerman, Iran	537,718	25
98	Bandar Abbas, Iran	526,648	29
99	Sylhet, Bangladesh	526,412	18
100	Arak, Iran	526,200	21
101	Hamadan, Iran	526,000	24
102	Sargodha, Pakistan	507,817	22
103	Ulhasnagar, India	506,937	20
104	Sangli, India	502,800	18
105	Jammu, India	502,197	17
106	Jabalpur, India	500,000	18
107	Gwalior, India	500,000	19
108	Patna, India	500,000	21
109	Hubli, India	500,000	21
110	Jamshedpur, India	500,000	23
111	Jhansi, India	500,000	16
112	Vadodara, India	500,000	21
113	Pokhara, Nepal	500,000	24
114	Asansol, India	500,000	19
115	Meerut, India	500,000	22
116	Mangalore, India	500,000	25
117	Imphal, India	500,000	21
118	Muzaffarnagar, India	495,543	21
119	Larkana, Pakistan	490,508	20
120	Yazd, Iran	486,152	25

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.