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.

Currency
Rank
City
Population
Price
per month for a nomad
Living Index
361
107,742
$2,946
140
362
107,588
$3,184
151
363
107,408
$2,950
140
364
107,158
$3,470
166
365
106,874
$2,817
134
366
106,803
$3,303
159
367
106,785
$3,041
145
368
106,519
$2,623
127
369
106,447
$2,898
138
370
106,215
$3,334
159
371
105,162
$4,799
228
372
105,162
$2,622
126
373
105,000
$2,885
140
374
104,659
$2,341
111
375
104,423
$3,492
167
376
104,371
$2,173
105
377
104,246
$2,478
119
378
103,700
$2,397
115
379
103,536
$4,675
221
380
103,453
$1,821
88
381
103,340
$3,709
176
382
102,827
$2,234
108
383
102,316
$1,815
87
384
101,724
$2,218
105
385
101,724
$1,977
95
386
101,412
$2,015
96
387
101,410
$2,301
110
388
101,228
$2,764
133
389
101,030
$3,306
159
390
100,670
$3,699
179

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

Last update: November 3, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions
How is affordability determined in this ranking?
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.
Why does city size affect cost of living?
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.
Should I choose a smaller city to save money?
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.
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