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
91	Majuro, Marshall Islands	26,000	$2,118	102
92	Taupo, New Zealand	26,000	$2,117	101
93	Papamoa Beach, New Zealand	25,272	$2,104	101
94	South Yarra, Australia	25,147	$2,525	121
95	Alice Springs, Australia	24,855	$1,810	88
96	Devonport, Australia	24,591	$2,542	122
97	Nuku'alofa, Tonga	24,500	$1,013	49
98	Goulburn, Australia	23,963	$2,341	113
99	Epping, Australia	23,435	$2,637	127
100	Warragul, Australia	23,051	$2,574	123
101	Cambridge, New Zealand	21,400	$2,042	98
102	Armidale, Australia	21,312	$1,710	83
103	Cranbourne, Australia	21,281	$2,506	119
104	Griffith, Australia	20,799	$2,515	121
105	Forster, Australia	20,554	$2,595	125
106	Ashburton, New Zealand	20,500	$2,030	97
107	Burnie, Australia	20,267	$1,649	79
108	Wodonga, Australia	20,259	$2,537	122
109	Parramatta, Australia	19,745	$3,299	160
110	Wangaratta, Australia	19,712	$2,599	124
111	Surfers Paradise, Australia	19,668	$2,810	135
112	Gympie, Australia	19,435	$1,816	87
113	Grafton, Australia	19,255	$2,424	116
114	Carlton, Australia	19,001	$2,339	111
115	Levin, New Zealand	18,800	$1,994	96
116	Maroochydore, Australia	18,342	$2,381	115
117	Taree, Australia	18,110	$2,586	119
118	Mount Isa, Australia	17,936	$2,519	121
119	Broken Hill, Australia	17,456	$2,546	122
120	Feilding, New Zealand	17,350	$2,000	96

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.