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	Living Index
31	Noumea, New Caledonia	91,386	120
32	Palmerston North, New Zealand	90,500	84
33	Launceston, Australia	80,943	102
34	Mackay, Australia	80,455	102
35	Bunbury, Australia	75,196	99
36	Napier, New Zealand	65,000	97
37	Rockhampton, Australia	63,151	91
38	Hawkesbury City, Australia	62,353	108
39	Porirua, New Zealand	61,900	96
40	Rotorua, New Zealand	58,400	73
41	New Plymouth, New Zealand	58,400	91
42	Hervey Bay, Australia	57,722	105
43	Invercargill, New Zealand	56,200	78
44	Honiara, Solomon Islands	54,600	106
45	Whangarei, New Zealand	54,300	85
46	Pakenham, Australia	54,118	112
47	Bundaberg, Australia	52,370	97
48	Nelson, New Zealand	51,100	102
49	Hastings, New Zealand	50,100	72
50	Lautoka, Fiji	50,000	35
51	Nadi, Fiji	50,000	52
52	Shepparton, Australia	49,862	100
53	Wagga Wagga, Australia	49,686	108
54	Port Macquarie, Australia	47,793	103
55	Berwick, Australia	47,674	112
56	Upper Hutt, New Zealand	44,600	95
57	Port Vila, Vanuatu	44,039	152
58	Whanganui, New Zealand	42,300	87
59	Orange, NSW, Australia	40,127	89
60	Dubbo, Australia	38,808	115

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.