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
121	Byron Bay, Australia	10,538	105
122	Redcliffe, Australia	10,460	113
123	Esperance, Australia	10,218	112
124	Casino, NSW, Australia	10,000	110
125	Moe, Australia	8,700	107
126	Mansfield, Australia	8,600	112
127	Kerikeri, New Zealand	8,000	92
128	Katoomba, Australia	8,000	115
129	Ormond, VIC, Australia	8,000	111
130	Margaret River, Australia	8,000	112
131	Thames, New Zealand	7,500	95
132	Collie, Australia	7,000	112
133	Bikenibeu, Kiribati	6,500	80
134	Nuriootpa, Australia	6,300	115
135	Northam, Australia	6,000	110
136	Kununurra, Australia	5,300	112
137	Cromwell, New Zealand	5,000	91
138	Ningi, Australia	5,000	112
139	Waihi, New Zealand	4,700	94
140	Dargaville, New Zealand	4,600	94
141	Romsey, Australia	4,400	113
142	Wairoa, New Zealand	4,300	94
143	Greymouth, New Zealand	4,000	95
144	Paeroa, New Zealand	4,000	94
145	Port Douglas, Australia	3,500	112
146	Exmouth, Australia	3,500	112
147	Charleville, Australia	3,300	112
148	Derby, Australia	3,300	112
149	Gore, New Zealand	3,100	94
150	Berry, Australia	2,700	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.