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
241	Khairpur, Pakistan	183,181	20
242	Sirsa, India	182,500	19
243	Panvel, India	180,020	21
244	Unnao, India	177,658	18
245	Sitapur, India	177,200	19
246	Alappuzha, India	177,000	17
247	Pakpattan, Pakistan	176,693	20
248	Daska, Pakistan	175,170	23
249	Chirala, India	172,826	21
250	Silchar, India	172,800	15
251	Chandpur, Bangladesh	171,065	17
252	Malayer, Iran	170,237	27
253	Shimla, India	170,000	17
254	Machilipatnam, India	169,892	19
255	Bharuch, Gujarat, India	169,000	25
256	Hoshiarpur, India	168,700	19
257	Jalalabad, Afghanistan	168,600	23
258	Tangail, Bangladesh	167,412	13
259	Sirajganj, Bangladesh	167,200	18
260	Biratnagar, Nepal	166,674	19
261	Tenali, India	164,937	19
262	Kolar Gold Fields, India	163,643	19
263	Vapi, India	163,600	21
264	Bahawalnagar, Pakistan	161,033	22
265	Navsari, India	161,000	20
266	Chittoor, India	160,722	20
267	Budaun, India	159,300	17
268	Gojra, Pakistan	157,863	23
269	Erode, India	157,100	19
270	Krishnanagar, India	153,000	17

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.