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	$1,719	82
92	Cranbourne, Australia	21,281	$2,702	121
93	Griffith, Australia	20,799	$2,325	122
94	Forster, Australia	20,554	$2,667	125
95	Ashburton, New Zealand	20,500	$2,057	98
96	Burnie, Australia	20,267	$1,630	78
97	Wodonga, Australia	20,259	$2,555	122
98	Parramatta, Australia	19,745	$3,337	159
99	Wangaratta, Australia	19,712	$2,418	124
100	Surfers Paradise, Australia	19,668	$2,788	134
101	Gympie, Australia	19,435	$1,808	86
102	Grafton, Australia	19,255	$2,452	116
103	Carlton, Australia	19,001	$2,304	111
104	Levin, New Zealand	18,800	$2,000	96
105	Maroochydore, Australia	18,342	$2,411	114
106	Taree, Australia	18,110	$2,473	119
107	Mount Isa, Australia	17,936	$2,703	122
108	Broken Hill, Australia	17,456	$2,464	122
109	Feilding, New Zealand	17,350	$2,123	97
110	Karratha, Australia	17,013	$2,529	122
111	Whakatane, New Zealand	16,700	$1,883	94
112	Muswellbrook, Australia	16,000	$2,535	118
113	Queenstown, New Zealand	15,450	$2,384	114
114	Port Hedland, Australia	15,298	$2,433	122
115	Broome, WA, Australia	14,660	$2,674	127
116	Horsham, Australia	14,543	$2,384	122
117	Port Lincoln, Australia	14,404	$2,372	122
118	Oamaru, New Zealand	13,850	$2,039	94
119	Sale, Australia	13,673	$2,574	122
120	Te Awamutu, New Zealand	13,350	$1,852	91

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.