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
451	Bryan, TX, United States	83,980	129
452	Trenton, NJ, United States	83,923	143
453	Kennewick, WA, United States	83,921	125
454	Chilliwack, Canada	83,788	110
455	League City, TX, United States	83,560	125
456	Lethbridge, AB, Canada	83,517	101
457	Franklin, TN, United States	83,454	162
458	Avondale, AZ, United States	83,392	134
459	Hesperia, CA, United States	83,351	129
460	Merced, CA, United States	83,316	125
461	Alhambra, CA, United States	83,089	159
462	Mountain View, CA, United States	82,739	197
463	Temple, TX, United States	82,073	123
464	Pleasanton, CA, United States	81,777	202
465	Longview, WA, United States	81,638	118
466	Longview, TX, United States	81,638	127
467	Manteca, CA, United States	81,592	131
468	Peterborough, Canada	81,032	118
469	Farmington Hills, MI, United States	80,937	138
470	Napa, CA, United States	80,434	212
471	Saint-Jérôme, Canada	80,213	117
472	Moncton, Canada	80,000	99
473	Parma, OH, United States	79,982	132
474	Sugar Land, TX, United States	79,943	130
475	Flint, MI, United States	79,865	118
476	New Rochelle, NY, United States	79,726	174
477	Clifton, NJ, United States	79,606	150
478	The Villages, FL, United States	79,077	129
479	Lynchburg, VA, United States	79,009	109
480	Schaumburg, IL, United States	78,723	165

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.