The world's 10 cheapest cities

Four Asian cities make the list, including Chennai and Bangalore in India and Karachi in Pakistan

No.10, NEW DELHI, INDIA. India’s capital is buzzing with commuters and traffic and is often described as a chaotic hotspot. The average cost of living in New Delhi is about $340 per month, according to Numbeo. Prakash Singh / AFP

No.9, BANGALORE, INDIA. Popularly known for its IT industry, Bangalore is buzzing with new tech start-ups. Despite being on the cheapest cities list, it’s a thriving destination which attracts many tourists from inside and outside of India each year. Alamy

No.8, CHENNAI, INDIA. Chennai is one of the biggest cultural, economic, and educational centre of South India. It attracts a huge number of foreign tourists each year. Compared to other big metropolitan cities, Chennai has a comparatively affordable cost of living, depending on how well you choose to live. AFP

No.7, KARACHI, PAKISTAN. According Numbeo, the cost of living database website, the average monthly costs for a family of four, without rent, is about $1,060 (Dh3,900). A loaf of bread costs about Dh1.5 and the average monthly utilities bills for a family apartment about $62 (Dh230). AFP

No.6, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA. The weak Argentine peso is one of the driving factors that make this city so cheap. The booming city has lots to offer in terms of culture and the night life is vibrant and very affordable. AFP

No.5, ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN. Almaty is an eccentric place that has lots to offer visitors. It boasts a folk musical instruments museum taking visitor on a journey through musical Kazakhstan. Like most places on the list, hotels and rental apartments are cheap and the views of the mountains from the city. Bloomberg

No.4, CARACAS, VENEZUELA. There is a lot of crime and instability in Caracas, which is why you will find it bottom of the list in terms of cost of living. The city is busy, noisy and heavily polluted but accommodation is cheap and so too is eating out. Reuters

No.3, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA. Lusaka city is situated in the south-central part of the country on a limestone plateau, which sits more than 1,200 metres above sea level. It has a huge central market where everyday items are sold at low costs. Alamy

No.2, TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN. In 1966, Uzbekistan’s capital was destroyed by an earthquake while under Soviet rule. Today, the city is a mish-mash of restored historical buildings, classical Russian architecture. Reuters

No.1, DAMASCUS, SYRIA. Damascus, the capital of war-torn Syria, is rated as the cheapest city in the world, with prices only slightly higher in the Uzbekistan capital, Tashkent, which takes the number two spot. AFP

A survey on the global cost of living has revealed the 10 cheapest cities in the world in 2020.

While some, such as Damascus in Syria, made the list because of their war-torn status, others are peaceful cities to live in despite the unusually low costs.

The report, from The Economist Intelligence Unit, puts Damascus, Tashkent in Uzbekistan and Lusaka in Zambia in the top three.

All three fall low on the tourist destination list because of the levels of poverty and political crisis in the countries.

Farther down the list are Buenos Aires in Argentina and New Delhi in India.

While both cities have problems with crime and corruption, the cost of living is relatively cheap and they are often frequented by backpackers and tourists.

Four Asian cities are on the list, including Chennai and Bangalore in India and Karachi in Pakistan.

According to Numbeo, a cost of living database website, the average monthly costs for a family of four in Karachi, without rent, is about $1,060 (Dh3,900).

In the same city, a loaf of bread costs about Dh1.5 and the average monthly utilities bills for a family apartment are about $62 (Dh230).

Here, The National lists the world's 10 cheapest cities in which to live.

The world's 10 cheapest cities:

1. Damascus, Syria
2. Tashkent, Uzbekistan 
3. Lusaka, Zambia
4. Caracas, Venezuela
5. Almaty, Kazakhstan
6. Buenos Aires, Argentina
7. Karachi, Pakistan
8. Chennai, India
9. Bangalore, India
10. New Delhi, India

1. Damascus, Syria

Damascus, the capital of war-torn Syria, is rated as the cheapest city in the world, with prices only slightly higher in the Uzbekistan capital, Tashkent, which takes the number two spot.

2. Tashkent, Uzbekistan

In 1966, Uzbekistan’s capital was destroyed by an earthquake while under Soviet rule. Today, the city is a mish-mash of restored historical buildings, classical Russian architecture.

3. Lusaka, Zambia

Lusaka city is situated in the south-central part of the country on a limestone plateau, which sits more than 1,200 metres above sea level. It has a huge central market where everyday items are sold at low costs.

4. Caracas, Venezuela

There is a lot of crime and instability in Caracas, which is why you will find it bottom of the list in terms of cost of living. The city is busy, noisy and heavily polluted but accommodation is cheap and so too is eating out.

5. Almaty, Kazakhstan

Almaty is an eccentric place that has lots to offer visitors. It boasts a folk musical instruments museum taking visitor on a journey through musical Kazakhstan. Like most places on the list, hotels and rental apartments are cheap and the views of the mountains from the city.

6. Buenos Aires, Argentina

The weak Argentine peso is one of the driving factors that make this city so cheap. The booming city has lots to offer in terms of culture and the night life is vibrant and very affordable.

7. Karachi, Pakistan

According Numbeo, the cost of living database website, the average monthly costs for a family of four, without rent, is about $1,060 (Dh3,900). A loaf of bread costs about Dh1.5 and the average monthly utilities bills for a family apartment about $62 (Dh230).

8. Chennai, India

Chennai is one of the biggest cultural, economic, and educational centre of South India. It attracts a huge number of foreign tourists each year. Compared to other big metropolitan cities, Chennai has a comparatively affordable cost of living, depending on how well you choose to live.

9. Bangalore, India

Popularly known for its IT industry, Bangalore is buzzing with new tech start-ups. Despite being on the cheapest cities list, it’s a thriving destination which attracts many tourists from inside and outside of India each year.

10. New Delhi, India

India’s capital is buzzing with commuters and traffic and is often described as a chaotic hotspot. The average cost of living in New Delhi is about $340 per month, according to Numbeo.