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
31	Mackay, Australia	80,455	103
32	Bunbury, Australia	75,196	114
33	Napier, New Zealand	65,000	107
34	Rockhampton, Australia	63,151	93
35	Hawkesbury City, Australia	62,353	120
36	Porirua, New Zealand	61,900	92
37	Rotorua, New Zealand	58,400	70
38	New Plymouth, New Zealand	58,400	91
39	Hervey Bay, Australia	57,722	99
40	Invercargill, New Zealand	56,200	69
41	Whangarei, New Zealand	54,300	76
42	Pakenham, Australia	54,118	120
43	Bundaberg, Australia	52,370	99
44	Nelson, New Zealand	51,100	82
45	Hastings, New Zealand	50,100	84
46	Shepparton, Australia	49,862	102
47	Wagga Wagga, Australia	49,686	117
48	Port Macquarie, Australia	47,793	116
49	Berwick, Australia	47,674	118
50	Upper Hutt, New Zealand	44,600	89
51	Whanganui, New Zealand	42,300	90
52	Orange, NSW, Australia	40,127	81
53	Dubbo, Australia	38,808	120
54	Hoppers Crossing, Australia	38,701	118
55	Gisborne, New Zealand	37,300	95
56	Bathurst, Australia	36,230	118
57	Gladstone, Australia	34,703	118
58	Mildura, Australia	34,565	109
59	Tarneit, Australia	34,562	118
60	Geraldton, Australia	32,717	113

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: August 25, 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.