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
121	Ardabil, Iran	482,632	30
122	Bellary, India	475,000	22
123	Sheikhupura, Pakistan	473,129	22
124	Jalgaon, India	460,000	17
125	Kurnool, India	457,633	19
126	Udaipur, India	452,000	20
127	Rajshahi, Bangladesh	451,425	15
128	Dehradun, India	447,808	23
129	Tiruppur, India	440,000	16
130	Davanagere, India	434,971	15
131	Akola, India	425,800	18
132	Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan	420,419	19
133	Jhang, Pakistan	414,131	19
134	Sanandaj, Iran	412,767	20
135	Bhagalpur, India	410,000	16
136	Comilla, Bangladesh	407,901	17
137	Tongi, Bangladesh	406,420	16
138	Qazvin, Iran	402,748	29
139	Bogra, Bangladesh	400,983	14
140	Gulbarga, India	400,000	16
141	Agartala, India	400,000	19
142	Shivamogga, India	400,000	19
143	Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan	399,064	15
144	Gujrat, Pakistan	390,533	17
145	Mymensingh, Bangladesh	389,918	14
146	Sahiwal, Pakistan	389,605	19
147	Zanjan, Iran	386,851	21
148	Kakinada, India	384,182	18
149	Latur, India	382,900	21
150	Dhule, India	375,550	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.