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
151	Jizan, Saudi Arabia	127,743	51
152	Giresun, Turkey	125,682	54
153	Beit Shemesh, Israel	124,445	97
154	Karabuk, Turkey	123,309	50
155	Riffa, Bahrain	121,566	68
156	Ar-rass, Saudi Arabia	121,359	58
157	Dhahran, Saudi Arabia	120,521	66
158	Zonguldak, Turkey	120,395	48
159	Agri, Turkey	120,390	54
160	Sur, Oman	120,000	54
161	'ibri, Oman	116,416	43
162	Tartus, Syria	115,769	24
163	Al-Rumaitha, Iraq	115,431	38
164	Amasya, Turkey	114,921	57
165	Jaramana, Syria	114,363	26
166	Gyumri, Armenia	111,138	45
167	Duma, Syria	110,893	26
168	Kfar Saba, Israel	109,091	112
169	Herzliya, Israel	106,022	115
170	Hadera, Israel	102,223	113
171	Limassol, Cyprus	101,000	127
172	'ali, Bahrain	100,553	41
173	Didim, Turkey	93,876	52
174	Fujairah, United Arab Emirates	93,673	74
175	Sabah Al Salem, Kuwait	92,818	67
176	Rabigh, Saudi Arabia	92,072	57
177	Raanana, Israel	91,534	118
178	Sinjar, Iraq	88,023	44
179	Al Wakrah, Qatar	87,970	77
180	Qatif, Saudi Arabia	87,332	53

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.