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	$2,423	116
62	Gisborne, New Zealand	37,300	$2,014	102
63	Bathurst, Australia	36,230	$2,519	122
64	Gladstone, Australia	34,703	$2,556	122
65	Mildura, Australia	34,565	$2,330	112
66	Tarneit, Australia	34,562	$2,517	121
67	Geraldton, Australia	32,717	$2,540	122
68	Albany, Australia	31,128	$2,623	122
69	Dandenong, Australia	30,127	$1,056	51
70	Caboolture, Australia	29,534	$1,917	92
71	Warrnambool, Australia	29,284	$2,654	123
72	Kalgoorlie, Australia	29,068	$1,925	92
73	Blenheim, New Zealand	28,800	$1,424	68
74	Buderim, Australia	28,774	$2,559	122
75	Timaru, New Zealand	28,600	$1,936	96
76	Richmond, Australia	28,587	$2,419	118
77	Rolleston, New Zealand	28,000	$1,151	55
78	Busselton, Australia	27,233	$2,466	125
79	Pukekohe, New Zealand	26,900	$2,063	93
80	Masterton, New Zealand	26,800	$836	40
81	Mount Gambier, Australia	26,734	$2,241	106
82	Taupo, New Zealand	26,000	$2,245	102
83	Papamoa Beach, New Zealand	25,272	$2,121	102
84	South Yarra, Australia	25,147	$2,502	120
85	Alice Springs, Australia	24,855	$1,827	88
86	Devonport, Australia	24,591	$2,459	122
87	Goulburn, Australia	23,963	$2,429	113
88	Epping, Australia	23,435	$2,609	126
89	Warragul, Australia	23,051	$2,533	122
90	Cambridge, New Zealand	21,400	$2,078	99

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.