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
61	Frankston, Australia	37,331	$2,422	117
62	Gisborne, New Zealand	37,300	$2,027	102
63	Bathurst, Australia	36,230	$2,543	122
64	Gladstone, Australia	34,703	$2,550	122
65	Mildura, Australia	34,565	$2,360	112
66	Tarneit, Australia	34,562	$2,516	121
67	Geraldton, Australia	32,717	$2,541	122
68	Albany, Australia	31,128	$2,562	122
69	Dandenong, Australia	30,127	$1,068	51
70	Caboolture, Australia	29,534	$1,944	93
71	Warrnambool, Australia	29,284	$2,544	123
72	Kalgoorlie, Australia	29,068	$1,961	93
73	Blenheim, New Zealand	28,800	$1,408	68
74	Buderim, Australia	28,774	$2,538	122
75	Timaru, New Zealand	28,600	$2,005	95
76	Richmond, Australia	28,587	$2,462	118
77	Rolleston, New Zealand	28,000	$1,143	55
78	Busselton, Australia	27,233	$2,583	124
79	Pukekohe, New Zealand	26,900	$1,920	92
80	Masterton, New Zealand	26,800	$835	40
81	Mount Gambier, Australia	26,734	$2,242	108
82	Taupo, New Zealand	26,000	$2,117	101
83	Papamoa Beach, New Zealand	25,272	$2,104	101
84	South Yarra, Australia	25,147	$2,525	121
85	Alice Springs, Australia	24,855	$1,810	88
86	Devonport, Australia	24,591	$2,542	122
87	Goulburn, Australia	23,963	$2,341	113
88	Epping, Australia	23,435	$2,637	127
89	Warragul, Australia	23,051	$2,574	123
90	Cambridge, New Zealand	21,400	$2,042	98

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.