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
91	Armidale, Australia	21,312	$1,710	83
92	Cranbourne, Australia	21,281	$2,506	119
93	Griffith, Australia	20,799	$2,515	121
94	Forster, Australia	20,554	$2,595	125
95	Ashburton, New Zealand	20,500	$2,030	97
96	Burnie, Australia	20,267	$1,649	79
97	Wodonga, Australia	20,259	$2,537	122
98	Parramatta, Australia	19,745	$3,299	160
99	Wangaratta, Australia	19,712	$2,599	124
100	Surfers Paradise, Australia	19,668	$2,810	135
101	Gympie, Australia	19,435	$1,816	87
102	Grafton, Australia	19,255	$2,424	116
103	Carlton, Australia	19,001	$2,339	111
104	Levin, New Zealand	18,800	$1,994	96
105	Maroochydore, Australia	18,342	$2,381	115
106	Taree, Australia	18,110	$2,586	119
107	Mount Isa, Australia	17,936	$2,519	121
108	Broken Hill, Australia	17,456	$2,546	122
109	Feilding, New Zealand	17,350	$2,000	96
110	Karratha, Australia	17,013	$2,553	121
111	Whakatane, New Zealand	16,700	$1,952	93
112	Muswellbrook, Australia	16,000	$2,464	118
113	Queenstown, New Zealand	15,450	$2,379	113
114	Port Hedland, Australia	15,298	$2,517	121
115	Broome, WA, Australia	14,660	$2,674	128
116	Horsham, Australia	14,543	$2,575	123
117	Port Lincoln, Australia	14,404	$2,549	121
118	Oamaru, New Zealand	13,850	$1,929	93
119	Sale, Australia	13,673	$2,520	121
120	Te Awamutu, New Zealand	13,350	$1,881	91

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.