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	Nigde, Turkey	351,468	52
92	Jubail, Saudi Arabia	337,778	50
93	Gence, Azerbaijan	335,800	38
94	Sumgayit, Azerbaijan	331,000	36
95	Al Fallujah, Iraq	326,471	33
96	Hama, Syria	312,994	22
97	Ha'il, Saudi Arabia	310,897	47
98	Nicosia, Cyprus	310,355	88
99	Salmiya, Kuwait	309,960	76
100	Najran, Saudi Arabia	298,288	55
101	Irbid, Jordan	292,000	35
102	Nevsehir, Turkey	290,895	49
103	Adapazari, Turkey	280,214	46
104	Al-musayyib, Iraq	279,939	32
105	Haifa, Israel	279,591	114
106	Kirklareli, Turkey	277,984	47
107	Hafar Al Batin, Saudi Arabia	271,642	53
108	Ba'qubah, Iraq	268,866	26
109	Tikrit, Iraq	260,000	37
110	Ashdod, Israel	251,837	119
111	As Samawah, Iraq	250,000	31
112	Rishon Leziyyon, Israel	247,323	141
113	Iskenderun, Turkey	246,639	47
114	Manavgat, Turkey	245,740	47
115	Netanya, Israel	245,454	114
116	Sakakah, Saudi Arabia	242,813	53
117	Yalova, Turkey	241,665	37
118	Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates	241,000	81
119	Ajman, United Arab Emirates	238,119	113
120	Petah Tikva, Israel	236,169	147

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.