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
181	Haldwani, India	275,000	18
182	Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh	268,279	17
183	Anantapur, India	267,161	18
184	Nawabshah, Pakistan	263,102	22
185	Alwar, India	260,000	19
186	Lalitpur, Nepal	254,000	21
187	Begusarai, India	250,000	14
188	Dezful, Iran	248,380	27
189	Sri Ganganagar, India	244,800	19
190	Sikar, India	237,500	21
191	Jessore, Bangladesh	237,478	14
192	Rewa, India	235,500	15
193	Borujerd, Iran	234,997	27
194	Mirpur Khas, Pakistan	233,916	23
195	Burewala, Pakistan	231,797	22
196	Abadan, Iran	231,476	27
197	Varamin, Iran	225,628	28
198	Amol, Iran	225,000	25
199	Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India	225,000	16
200	Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh	223,522	15
201	Bushehr, Iran	223,504	25
202	Thanjavur, India	223,000	21
203	Bulandshahr, India	222,500	23
204	Singrauli, India	220,295	19
205	Babol, Iran	220,000	21
206	Yamunanagar, India	216,628	19
207	Gazipur, Bangladesh	213,061	16
208	Burhanpur, India	210,900	19
209	Rourkela, India	210,300	17
210	Mahabad, Iran	208,541	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.