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
61	Hoppers Crossing, Australia	38,701	112
62	Gisborne, New Zealand	37,300	98
63	Bathurst, Australia	36,230	113
64	Gladstone, Australia	34,703	112
65	Mildura, Australia	34,565	108
66	Tarneit, Australia	34,562	112
67	Geraldton, Australia	32,717	112
68	Albany, Australia	31,128	111
69	Dandenong, Australia	30,127	108
70	Caboolture, Australia	29,534	91
71	Warrnambool, Australia	29,284	110
72	Kalgoorlie, Australia	29,068	90
73	Blenheim, New Zealand	28,800	78
74	Timaru, New Zealand	28,600	102
75	Rolleston, New Zealand	28,000	93
76	Busselton, Australia	27,233	109
77	Pukekohe, New Zealand	26,900	87
78	Masterton, New Zealand	26,800	76
79	Mount Gambier, Australia	26,734	104
80	Papeete, French Polynesia	26,050	115
81	Majuro, Marshall Islands	26,000	105
82	Taupo, New Zealand	26,000	95
83	Papamoa Beach, New Zealand	25,272	94
84	South Yarra, Australia	25,147	109
85	Alice Springs, Australia	24,855	91
86	Devonport, Australia	24,591	120
87	Nuku'alofa, Tonga	24,500	51
88	Goulburn, Australia	23,963	105
89	Warragul, Australia	23,051	113
90	Cambridge, New Zealand	21,400	112

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.