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	118
62	Gisborne, New Zealand	37,300	95
63	Bathurst, Australia	36,230	118
64	Gladstone, Australia	34,703	118
65	Mildura, Australia	34,565	109
66	Tarneit, Australia	34,562	118
67	Geraldton, Australia	32,717	113
68	Albany, Australia	31,128	120
69	Dandenong, Australia	30,127	113
70	Caboolture, Australia	29,534	90
71	Warrnambool, Australia	29,284	118
72	Kalgoorlie, Australia	29,068	91
73	Blenheim, New Zealand	28,800	67
74	Timaru, New Zealand	28,600	87
75	Rolleston, New Zealand	28,000	56
76	Busselton, Australia	27,233	119
77	Pukekohe, New Zealand	26,900	93
78	Masterton, New Zealand	26,800	41
79	Mount Gambier, Australia	26,734	104
80	Papeete, French Polynesia	26,050	109
81	Majuro, Marshall Islands	26,000	96
82	Taupo, New Zealand	26,000	94
83	Papamoa Beach, New Zealand	25,272	92
84	South Yarra, Australia	25,147	116
85	Alice Springs, Australia	24,855	97
86	Devonport, Australia	24,591	55
87	Nuku'alofa, Tonga	24,500	47
88	Goulburn, Australia	23,963	110
89	Warragul, Australia	23,051	119
90	Cambridge, New Zealand	21,400	86

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.