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	23
122	Bellary, India	475,000	16
123	Sheikhupura, Pakistan	473,129	23
124	Jalgaon, India	460,000	15
125	Kurnool, India	457,633	16
126	Udaipur, India	452,000	19
127	Rajshahi, Bangladesh	451,425	15
128	Dehradun, India	447,808	23
129	Tiruppur, India	440,000	18
130	Davanagere, India	434,971	11
131	Akola, India	425,800	16
132	Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan	420,419	21
133	Jhang, Pakistan	414,131	22
134	Sanandaj, Iran	412,767	18
135	Bhagalpur, India	410,000	13
136	Comilla, Bangladesh	407,901	17
137	Tongi, Bangladesh	406,420	15
138	Qazvin, Iran	402,748	26
139	Bogra, Bangladesh	400,983	14
140	Gulbarga, India	400,000	13
141	Shivamogga, India	400,000	16
142	Agartala, India	400,000	17
143	Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan	399,064	19
144	Gujrat, Pakistan	390,533	19
145	Mymensingh, Bangladesh	389,918	14
146	Sahiwal, Pakistan	389,605	23
147	Zanjan, Iran	386,851	19
148	Kakinada, India	384,182	13
149	Latur, India	382,900	17
150	Dhule, India	375,550	16

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: August 25, 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.