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
61	Upper Hutt, New Zealand	44,600	$2,014	96
62	Port Vila, Vanuatu	44,039	$3,125	149
63	Whanganui, New Zealand	42,300	$1,981	95
64	Orange, NSW, Australia	40,127	$1,788	85
65	Castle Hill, Australia	39,284	$2,513	121
66	Dubbo, Australia	38,808	$2,561	123
67	Hoppers Crossing, Australia	38,701	$2,557	121
68	Frankston, Australia	37,331	$2,422	117
69	Gisborne, New Zealand	37,300	$2,027	102
70	Bathurst, Australia	36,230	$2,543	122
71	Gladstone, Australia	34,703	$2,550	122
72	Mildura, Australia	34,565	$2,360	112
73	Tarneit, Australia	34,562	$2,516	121
74	Pohnpei, Micronesia	34,486	$1,656	79
75	Geraldton, Australia	32,717	$2,541	122
76	Albany, Australia	31,128	$2,562	122
77	Dandenong, Australia	30,127	$1,068	51
78	Caboolture, Australia	29,534	$1,944	93
79	Warrnambool, Australia	29,284	$2,544	123
80	Kalgoorlie, Australia	29,068	$1,961	93
81	Blenheim, New Zealand	28,800	$1,408	68
82	Buderim, Australia	28,774	$2,538	122
83	Timaru, New Zealand	28,600	$2,005	95
84	Richmond, Australia	28,587	$2,462	118
85	Rolleston, New Zealand	28,000	$1,143	55
86	Busselton, Australia	27,233	$2,583	124
87	Pukekohe, New Zealand	26,900	$1,920	92
88	Masterton, New Zealand	26,800	$835	40
89	Mount Gambier, Australia	26,734	$2,242	108
90	Papeete, French Polynesia	26,050	$2,288	109

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.