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
91	Armidale, Australia	21,312	79
92	Griffith, Australia	20,799	112
93	Forster, Australia	20,554	105
94	Ashburton, New Zealand	20,500	94
95	Burnie, Australia	20,267	82
96	Wodonga, Australia	20,259	115
97	Parramatta, Australia	19,745	115
98	Wangaratta, Australia	19,712	113
99	Surfers Paradise, Australia	19,668	96
100	Gympie, Australia	19,435	108
101	Carlton, Australia	19,001	108
102	Levin, New Zealand	18,800	94
103	Taree, Australia	18,110	112
104	Mount Isa, Australia	17,936	112
105	Broken Hill, Australia	17,456	112
106	Feilding, New Zealand	17,350	94
107	Karratha, Australia	17,013	117
108	Whakatane, New Zealand	16,700	91
109	Queenstown, New Zealand	15,450	139
110	Port Hedland, Australia	15,298	112
111	Ba, Fiji	15,000	25
112	Broome, WA, Australia	14,660	107
113	Horsham, Australia	14,543	109
114	Port Lincoln, Australia	14,404	112
115	Oamaru, New Zealand	13,850	88
116	Sale, Australia	13,673	112
117	Te Awamutu, New Zealand	13,350	83
118	Balga, Australia	12,685	112
119	Wanaka, New Zealand	11,600	93
120	Mudgee, Australia	11,563	111

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.