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
61	Adiyaman, Turkey	632,459	53
62	Al Ain, United Arab Emirates	631,005	80
63	Sivas, Turkey	621,224	53
64	Taif, Saudi Arabia	579,970	46
65	Elazig, Turkey	578,789	54
66	Kutahya, Turkey	573,642	45
67	Karbala, Iraq	572,300	33
68	Corum, Turkey	527,863	43
69	Maltepe, Turkey	523,137	54
70	Tabuk, Saudi Arabia	512,629	67
71	Al-'amarah, Iraq	511,542	34
72	Aden, Yemen	508,489	70
73	Batman, Turkey	477,456	54
74	Kadikoy, Turkey	467,919	86
75	Buraydah, Saudi Arabia	467,410	60
76	Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel	438,818	135
77	Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia	430,828	48
78	Isparta, Turkey	427,324	43
79	Aksaray, Turkey	423,011	56
80	Al Kut, Iraq	422,793	36
81	Az-zarqa', Jordan	395,227	34
82	Al-jahra', Kuwait	393,432	72
83	Latakia, Syria	383,786	24
84	Usak, Turkey	377,001	55
85	İzmit, Turkey	376,056	52
86	Duzce, Turkey	370,371	57
87	Az Zubayr, Iraq	370,000	37
88	Antakya, Turkey	365,402	52
89	Kirikkale, Turkey	351,684	57
90	Nigde, Turkey	351,468	57

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.