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
91	Jubail, Saudi Arabia	337,778	53
92	Gence, Azerbaijan	335,800	39
93	Sumgayit, Azerbaijan	331,000	35
94	Al Fallujah, Iraq	326,471	46
95	Hama, Syria	312,994	21
96	Ha'il, Saudi Arabia	310,897	51
97	Nicosia, Cyprus	310,355	92
98	Salmiya, Kuwait	309,960	71
99	Najran, Saudi Arabia	298,288	53
100	Irbid, Jordan	292,000	37
101	Nevsehir, Turkey	290,895	57
102	Adapazari, Turkey	280,214	54
103	Al-musayyib, Iraq	279,939	45
104	Haifa, Israel	279,591	105
105	Kirklareli, Turkey	277,984	53
106	Hafar Al Batin, Saudi Arabia	271,642	60
107	Ba'qubah, Iraq	268,866	33
108	Tikrit, Iraq	260,000	37
109	Ashdod, Israel	251,837	111
110	As Samawah, Iraq	250,000	45
111	Rishon Leziyyon, Israel	247,323	123
112	Iskenderun, Turkey	246,639	57
113	Manavgat, Turkey	245,740	51
114	Netanya, Israel	245,454	127
115	Sakakah, Saudi Arabia	242,813	59
116	Yalova, Turkey	241,665	53
117	Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates	241,000	99
118	Ajman, United Arab Emirates	238,119	140
119	Petah Tikva, Israel	236,169	111
120	Abha, Saudi Arabia	236,157	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.