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
211	Elad, Israel	47,033	104
212	Batroun, Lebanon	45,000	50
213	Gori, Georgia	44,387	34
214	Taibe, Israel	43,567	115
215	Shinas, Oman	43,312	40
216	Famagusta, Cyprus	42,526	83
217	Baniyas, Syria	41,632	18
218	Zugdidi, Georgia	41,332	32
219	Samaxi, Azerbaijan	41,000	53
220	Kiryat Bialik, Israel	39,294	114
221	Umluj, Saudi Arabia	37,757	61
222	Ibra, Oman	35,000	42
223	Umm Al Quwain, United Arab Emirates	34,637	80
224	Artvin, Turkey	34,537	54
225	Yehud, Israel	33,728	111
226	Kyrenia, Cyprus	33,207	82
227	Paphos, Cyprus	32,892	99
228	Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia	32,413	61
229	Ahmadi, Kuwait	31,422	67
230	Budaiya, Bahrain	30,702	34
231	Al-Qusayr, Syria	29,818	26
232	Tubli, Bahrain	27,510	82
233	Az-zabadani, Syria	26,285	26
234	Arad, Israel	25,530	113
235	Migdal HaEmek, Israel	24,700	114
236	Givat Shmuel, Israel	24,659	115
237	Kiryat Shmona, Israel	23,076	119
238	Zikhron Ya'akov, Israel	22,984	118
239	Yokneam Illit, Israel	22,746	116
240	Samtredia, Georgia	22,201	33

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.