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	San Mateo, CA, United States	103,536	221
482	South Bend, IN, United States	103,453	93
483	Burbank, CA, United States	103,340	175
484	Norman, OK, United States	102,827	121
485	Wichita Falls, TX, United States	102,316	96
486	Davenport , FL, United States	101,724	111
487	Davenport, IA, United States	101,724	93
488	Green Bay, WI, United States	101,412	122
489	Nampa, ID, United States	101,410	108
490	Federal Way, WA, United States	101,030	166
491	Vacaville, CA, United States	100,670	186
492	Rosarito, Mexico	100,660	56
493	Red Deer, Canada	100,418	110
494	Edinburg, TX, United States	100,243	129
495	Temecula, CA, United States	100,097	146
496	Kenosha, WI, United States	99,986	111
497	San Angelo, TX, United States	99,893	175
498	Roanoke, VA, United States	99,837	96
499	Roanoke, AL, United States	99,837	129
500	Carmel, IN, United States	99,757	129

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.