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
61	Albany, Australia	31,128	111
62	Dandenong, Australia	30,127	108
63	Caboolture, Australia	29,534	91
64	Warrnambool, Australia	29,284	110
65	Kalgoorlie, Australia	29,068	90
66	Blenheim, New Zealand	28,800	78
67	Timaru, New Zealand	28,600	102
68	Rolleston, New Zealand	28,000	93
69	Busselton, Australia	27,233	109
70	Pukekohe, New Zealand	26,900	87
71	Masterton, New Zealand	26,800	76
72	Mount Gambier, Australia	26,734	104
73	Taupo, New Zealand	26,000	95
74	Papamoa Beach, New Zealand	25,272	94
75	South Yarra, Australia	25,147	109
76	Alice Springs, Australia	24,855	91
77	Devonport, Australia	24,591	120
78	Goulburn, Australia	23,963	105
79	Warragul, Australia	23,051	113
80	Cambridge, New Zealand	21,400	112
81	Armidale, Australia	21,312	79
82	Griffith, Australia	20,799	112
83	Forster, Australia	20,554	105
84	Ashburton, New Zealand	20,500	94
85	Burnie, Australia	20,267	82
86	Wodonga, Australia	20,259	115
87	Parramatta, Australia	19,745	115
88	Wangaratta, Australia	19,712	113
89	Surfers Paradise, Australia	19,668	96
90	Gympie, Australia	19,435	108

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.