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	Abha, Saudi Arabia	236,157	48
122	Yanbu, Saudi Arabia	233,236	47
123	Al Kufah, Iraq	230,000	29
124	Erzincan, Turkey	226,032	46
125	Seeb, Oman	223,000	60
126	Sohar, Oman	221,605	66
127	Beersheba, Israel	220,126	107
128	Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia	219,679	65
129	Tekirdag, Turkey	215,558	44
130	Holon, Israel	211,032	118
131	Ibb, Yemen	208,844	40
132	Zakho, Iraq	197,163	39
133	Bodrum, Turkey	187,284	60
134	Marmaris, Turkey	187,284	68
135	Edirne, Turkey	180,002	71
136	Salalah, Oman	178,469	48
137	Fethiye, Turkey	170,379	56
138	Arar, Saudi Arabia	167,057	53
139	Ramat Gan, Israel	164,764	135
140	Tokat, Turkey	164,405	48
141	Unaizah, Saudi Arabia	163,729	51
142	Bat Yam, Israel	158,565	124
143	Manama, Bahrain	157,474	72
144	Kastamonu, Turkey	152,541	46
145	Ashkelon, Israel	152,439	113
146	Rehovot, Israel	150,349	129
147	Al-hawiyah, Saudi Arabia	148,151	53
148	Canakkale, Turkey	143,675	42
149	Saham, Oman	140,000	43
150	Aqaba, Jordan	140,000	42

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.