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	120
62	Dandenong, Australia	30,127	113
63	Caboolture, Australia	29,534	90
64	Warrnambool, Australia	29,284	118
65	Kalgoorlie, Australia	29,068	91
66	Blenheim, New Zealand	28,800	67
67	Timaru, New Zealand	28,600	87
68	Rolleston, New Zealand	28,000	56
69	Busselton, Australia	27,233	119
70	Pukekohe, New Zealand	26,900	93
71	Masterton, New Zealand	26,800	41
72	Mount Gambier, Australia	26,734	104
73	Taupo, New Zealand	26,000	94
74	Papamoa Beach, New Zealand	25,272	92
75	South Yarra, Australia	25,147	116
76	Alice Springs, Australia	24,855	97
77	Devonport, Australia	24,591	55
78	Goulburn, Australia	23,963	110
79	Warragul, Australia	23,051	119
80	Cambridge, New Zealand	21,400	86
81	Armidale, Australia	21,312	80
82	Griffith, Australia	20,799	118
83	Forster, Australia	20,554	119
84	Ashburton, New Zealand	20,500	90
85	Burnie, Australia	20,267	83
86	Wodonga, Australia	20,259	106
87	Parramatta, Australia	19,745	136
88	Wangaratta, Australia	19,712	120
89	Surfers Paradise, Australia	19,668	132
90	Gympie, Australia	19,435	86

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.