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
331	Manchester, TN, United States	109,497	120
332	Manchester, NH, United States	109,497	130
333	Delta, BC, Canada	108,455	125
334	Lakeland, FL, United States	108,054	134
335	Thunder Bay, Canada	107,909	102
336	Clearwater, FL, United States	107,742	136
337	Edison, NJ, United States	107,588	147
338	Santa Maria, CA, United States	107,408	134
339	Roseville, CA, United States	107,158	160
340	Allen, TX, United States	106,874	126
341	Renton, WA, United States	106,785	139
342	Lowell, MA, United States	106,519	122
343	Hillsboro, OR, United States	106,447	132
344	El Cajon, CA, United States	106,215	161
345	Cambridge, MA, United States	105,162	204
346	Cambridge, OH, United States	105,162	117
347	Menifee, CA, United States	105,000	139
348	Lewisville, TX, United States	104,659	106
349	Ventura, CA, United States	104,423	162
350	High Point, NC, United States	104,371	101
351	Sparks, NV, United States, United States	104,246	115
352	San Mateo, CA, United States	103,536	202
353	South Bend, IN, United States	103,453	82
354	Burbank, CA, United States	103,340	171
355	Norman, OK, United States	102,827	113
356	Wichita Falls, TX, United States	102,316	80
357	Davenport , FL, United States	101,724	103
358	Davenport, IA, United States	101,724	91
359	Green Bay, WI, United States	101,412	99
360	Nampa, ID, United States	101,410	105

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.