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	Oshawa, Canada	159,458	109
302	Hayward, CA, United States	159,203	148
303	Eugene, OR, United States	159,150	120
304	Bonao, Dominican Republic	158,034	33
305	Salinas, CA, United States	157,380	166
306	Cuautla, Mexico	157,336	59
307	Dayton, OH, United States	156,771	100
308	Dayton, NV, United States	156,771	120
309	Salem, MA, United States	155,469	154
310	Salem, OH, United States	155,469	116
311	Salem, OR, United States	155,469	125
312	Cape Coral, FL, United States	154,305	118
313	Pomona, CA, United States	154,271	126
314	Jackson, MS, United States	153,701	106
315	Jackson, WY, United States	153,701	181
316	Jackson, TN, United States	153,701	102
317	Killeen, TX, United States	153,095	98
318	Palmdale, CA, United States	152,750	125
319	Sunnyvale, CA, United States	152,703	199
320	Macon, GA, United States	152,663	101
321	Corona, CA, United States	152,374	159
322	Bellevue, WA, United States	151,854	167
323	Bellevue, NE, United States	151,854	104
324	Escondido, CA, United States	151,038	172
325	Cienfuegos, Cuba	150,404	54
326	Joliet, IL, United States	150,362	118
327	Charleston, WV, United States	150,227	83
328	Charleston, SC, United States	150,227	151
329	Mesquite, TX, United States	150,108	118
330	Mesquite, NV, United States	150,108	57

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

Last update: August 25, 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.