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
31	Bendigo, Australia	100,649	$1,982	95
32	Palmerston North, New Zealand	90,500	$1,622	78
33	Launceston, Australia	80,943	$1,953	94
34	Mackay, Australia	80,455	$2,153	104
35	Coffs Harbour, Australia	78,759	$2,421	116
36	Bunbury, Australia	75,196	$2,160	103
37	Napier, New Zealand	65,000	$2,126	102
38	Rockhampton, Australia	63,151	$1,971	94
39	Hawkesbury City, Australia	62,353	$2,548	124
40	Porirua, New Zealand	61,900	$2,019	100
41	New Plymouth, New Zealand	58,400	$1,830	87
42	Rotorua, New Zealand	58,400	$1,444	70
43	Hervey Bay, Australia	57,722	$2,390	116
44	Invercargill, New Zealand	56,200	$1,424	68
45	Whangarei, New Zealand	54,300	$1,470	70
46	Pakenham, Australia	54,118	$2,727	125
47	Bundaberg, Australia	52,370	$2,106	100
48	Nelson, New Zealand	51,100	$1,847	89
49	Hastings, New Zealand	50,100	$1,766	85
50	Shepparton, Australia	49,862	$2,181	105
51	Wagga Wagga, Australia	49,686	$1,882	90
52	Port Macquarie, Australia	47,793	$2,494	120
53	Berwick, Australia	47,674	$2,496	122
54	Blacktown, Australia	46,942	$2,607	124
55	Upper Hutt, New Zealand	44,600	$2,057	97
56	Whanganui, New Zealand	42,300	$1,966	96
57	Orange, NSW, Australia	40,127	$1,759	84
58	Castle Hill, Australia	39,284	$2,536	121
59	Dubbo, Australia	38,808	$2,560	123
60	Hoppers Crossing, Australia	38,701	$2,395	122

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

Last update: November 10, 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.