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
391	Suffolk, VA, United States	94,324	103
392	Brockton, MA, United States	94,191	126
393	O'Fallon, MO, United States	94,074	110
394	O'Fallon, IL, United States	94,074	121
395	Fayetteville, NC, United States	93,949	117
396	Fayetteville, GA, United States	93,949	119
397	Fayetteville, AR, United States	93,949	107
398	The Woodlands, TX, United States	93,847	142
399	Yuma, AZ, United States	93,064	98
400	Niagara Falls, Canada	93,000	103
401	Hoover, AL, United States	92,606	118
402	New Bedford, MA, United States	92,538	125
403	Dearborn, MI, United States	92,382	121
404	Quincy, MA, United States	92,271	191
405	Quincy, CA, United States	92,271	118
406	Quincy, IL, United States	92,271	117
407	Pickering, ON, Canada	91,771	122
408	Redding, CA, United States	91,582	109
409	Brossard, Canada	91,525	118
410	Bellingham, WA, United States	91,482	136
411	Santa Barbara, CA, United States	91,196	199
412	Pearland, TX, United States	91,000	111
413	Maple Ridge, Canada	90,990	123
414	New Braunfels, TX, United States	90,403	115
415	Lynn, MA, United States	90,329	151
416	Chico, CA, United States	90,316	114
417	Kamloops, Canada	90,280	110
418	Fargo, ND, United States	90,056	91
419	Conroe, TX, United States	89,956	96
420	Santa Monica, CA, United States	89,736	207

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.