城里 often contrasts with 乡下 (xiāngxià, countryside) or 城外 (chéng wài, outside the city). 城里人 means 'city folk.'
history
Historically 城 referred to a walled city. 城里 literally meant 'inside the city walls,' and the contrast between 城里 and 城外 reflected the physical boundary of ancient Chinese cities.
