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 Oceania Australia and New Zealand Melanesia Micronesia Polynesia

Rank	City	Population	Price per month for a nomad	Living Index
31	Dunedin, New Zealand	105,000	$2,010	97
32	Bendigo, Australia	100,649	$2,023	96
33	Suva, Fiji	100,000	$948	45
34	Fiji, Fiji	92,043	$700	34
35	Noumea, New Caledonia	91,386	$2,670	128
36	Palmerston North, New Zealand	90,500	$1,598	76
37	Launceston, Australia	80,943	$1,980	95
38	Mackay, Australia	80,455	$2,187	105
39	Coffs Harbour, Australia	78,759	$2,451	117
40	Bunbury, Australia	75,196	$2,158	104
41	Napier, New Zealand	65,000	$2,264	108
42	Rockhampton, Australia	63,151	$1,992	95
43	Hawkesbury City, Australia	62,353	$2,566	124
44	Porirua, New Zealand	61,900	$2,073	99
45	New Plymouth, New Zealand	58,400	$1,804	87
46	Rotorua, New Zealand	58,400	$1,448	69
47	Hervey Bay, Australia	57,722	$2,428	116
48	Invercargill, New Zealand	56,200	$1,414	68
49	Honiara, Solomon Islands	54,600	$1,658	79
50	Whangarei, New Zealand	54,300	$1,470	70
51	Pakenham, Australia	54,118	$2,614	125
52	Bundaberg, Australia	52,370	$2,130	101
53	Nelson, New Zealand	51,100	$1,867	89
54	Hastings, New Zealand	50,100	$1,778	85
55	Nadi, Fiji	50,000	$1,381	66
56	Shepparton, Australia	49,862	$2,234	106
57	Wagga Wagga, Australia	49,686	$1,902	90
58	Port Macquarie, Australia	47,793	$2,498	120
59	Berwick, Australia	47,674	$2,552	121
60	Blacktown, Australia	46,942	$2,570	124

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 3, 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.