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 North America Northern America Central America Caribbean

Rank	City	Population	Living Index
301	Hayward, CA, United States	159,203	164
302	Eugene, OR, United States	159,150	121
303	Bonao, Dominican Republic	158,034	35
304	Salinas, CA, United States	157,380	186
305	Cuautla, Mexico	157,336	59
306	Dayton, OH, United States	156,771	110
307	Dayton, NV, United States	156,771	132
308	Salem, OH, United States	155,469	121
309	Salem, MA, United States	155,469	171
310	Salem, OR, United States	155,469	135
311	Cape Coral, FL, United States	154,305	134
312	Pomona, CA, United States	154,271	138
313	Jackson, WY, United States	153,701	196
314	Jackson, MS, United States	153,701	120
315	Jackson, TN, United States	153,701	99
316	Killeen, TX, United States	153,095	117
317	Palmdale, CA, United States	152,750	137
318	Sunnyvale, CA, United States	152,703	198
319	Macon, GA, United States	152,663	99
320	Corona, CA, United States	152,374	153
321	Bellevue, WA, United States	151,854	182
322	Bellevue, NE, United States	151,854	118
323	Escondido, CA, United States	151,038	179
324	Cienfuegos, Cuba	150,404	59
325	Joliet, IL, United States	150,362	129
326	Charleston, SC, United States	150,227	149
327	Charleston, WV, United States	150,227	90
328	Mesquite, TX, United States	150,108	129
329	Mesquite, NV, United States	150,108	125
330	Pembroke Pines, FL, United States	150,064	164

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.