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
121	Yanbu, Saudi Arabia	233,236	50
122	Al Kufah, Iraq	230,000	34
123	Erzincan, Turkey	226,032	54
124	Sohar, Oman	221,605	73
125	Beersheba, Israel	220,126	93
126	Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia	219,679	67
127	Tekirdag, Turkey	215,558	48
128	Holon, Israel	211,032	105
129	Zakho, Iraq	197,163	44
130	Bodrum, Turkey	187,284	56
131	Marmaris, Turkey	187,284	55
132	Edirne, Turkey	180,002	82
133	Salalah, Oman	178,469	56
134	Fethiye, Turkey	170,379	55
135	Arar, Saudi Arabia	167,057	61
136	Ramat Gan, Israel	164,764	136
137	Tokat, Turkey	164,405	52
138	Unaizah, Saudi Arabia	163,729	58
139	Bat Yam, Israel	158,565	111
140	Manama, Bahrain	157,474	75
141	Kastamonu, Turkey	152,541	57
142	Ashkelon, Israel	152,439	104
143	Rehovot, Israel	150,349	111
144	Al-hawiyah, Saudi Arabia	148,151	61
145	Canakkale, Turkey	143,675	54
146	Aqaba, Jordan	140,000	46
147	Saham, Oman	140,000	40
148	Madinat Hamad, Bahrain	133,350	60
149	Rustavi, Georgia	132,333	43
150	Kutaisi, Georgia	130,411	41

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.