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
481	High Point, NC, United States	104,371	101
482	Sparks, NV, United States, United States	104,246	115
483	San Mateo, CA, United States	103,536	202
484	South Bend, IN, United States	103,453	82
485	Burbank, CA, United States	103,340	171
486	Norman, OK, United States	102,827	113
487	Wichita Falls, TX, United States	102,316	80
488	Davenport , FL, United States	101,724	103
489	Davenport, IA, United States	101,724	91
490	Green Bay, WI, United States	101,412	99
491	Nampa, ID, United States	101,410	105
492	Federal Way, WA, United States	101,030	152
493	Vacaville, CA, United States	100,670	171
494	Rosarito, Mexico	100,660	58
495	Red Deer, Canada	100,418	104
496	Edinburg, TX, United States	100,243	118
497	Temecula, CA, United States	100,097	142
498	Kenosha, WI, United States	99,986	109
499	San Angelo, TX, United States	99,893	140
500	Roanoke, AL, United States	99,837	118

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.