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
121	Karratha, Australia	17,013	$2,553	121
122	Whakatane, New Zealand	16,700	$1,952	93
123	Muswellbrook, Australia	16,000	$2,464	118
124	Queenstown, New Zealand	15,450	$2,379	113
125	Port Hedland, Australia	15,298	$2,517	121
126	Broome, WA, Australia	14,660	$2,674	128
127	Horsham, Australia	14,543	$2,575	123
128	Port Lincoln, Australia	14,404	$2,549	121
129	Koror, Palau	14,000	$1,819	87
130	Oamaru, New Zealand	13,850	$1,929	93
131	Sale, Australia	13,673	$2,520	121
132	Te Awamutu, New Zealand	13,350	$1,881	91
133	Penrith, Australia	13,343	$2,557	122
134	Campbelltown, Australia	13,193	$2,444	117
135	Balga, Australia	12,685	$2,626	126
136	Penshurst, NSW, Australia	12,673	$2,516	121
137	Wanneroo, Australia	12,113	$2,497	121
138	Wanaka, New Zealand	11,600	$1,670	80
139	Mudgee, Australia	11,563	$2,500	120
140	Pago Pago, American Samoa	11,500	$1,479	70
141	Bowral, Australia	10,764	$2,658	121
142	Byron Bay, Australia	10,538	$2,411	116
143	Redcliffe, Australia	10,460	$2,501	120
144	Esperance, Australia	10,218	$2,558	121
145	Casino, NSW, Australia	10,000	$2,519	120
146	Nowra NSW, Australia	9,598	$2,569	124
147	Tweed Heads, Australia	9,017	$2,511	120
148	Ballina, Australia	8,911	$2,525	122
149	Moe, Australia	8,700	$2,393	115
150	Fremantle, Australia	8,616	$2,502	121

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.