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	Price per month for a nomad	Living Index
91	Latakia, Syria	383,786	$476	23
92	Usak, Turkey	377,001	$1,046	50
93	İzmit, Turkey	376,056	$938	45
94	Duzce, Turkey	370,371	$971	47
95	Az Zubayr, Iraq	370,000	$642	31
96	Antakya, Turkey	365,402	$842	40
97	Kirikkale, Turkey	351,684	$932	45
98	Nigde, Turkey	351,468	$1,134	54
99	Duhok, Iraq	340,900	$608	29
100	Jubail, Saudi Arabia	337,778	$1,115	53
101	Gence, Azerbaijan	335,800	$717	34
102	Sumgayit, Azerbaijan	331,000	$774	37
103	Al Fallujah, Iraq	326,471	$791	39
104	Hama, Syria	312,994	$553	26
105	Ha'il, Saudi Arabia	310,897	$1,076	51
106	Nicosia, Cyprus	310,355	$1,832	88
107	Salmiya, Kuwait	309,960	$1,627	79
108	Najran, Saudi Arabia	298,288	$1,245	60
109	Irbid, Jordan	292,000	$770	37
110	Nevsehir, Turkey	290,895	$1,057	50
111	Al Mubarraz, Saudi Arabia	290,802	$1,293	62
112	Gebze, Turkey	281,436	$957	48
113	Adapazari, Turkey	280,214	$952	45
114	Al-musayyib, Iraq	279,939	$791	38
115	Haifa, Israel	279,591	$2,399	115
116	Kirklareli, Turkey	277,984	$979	47
117	Al Rayyan, Qatar	272,465	$1,528	73
118	Hafar Al Batin, Saudi Arabia	271,642	$1,223	58
119	Ba'qubah, Iraq	268,866	$514	25
120	Tikrit, Iraq	260,000	$648	31

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 10, 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.