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
91	Carlton, Australia	19,001	107
92	Levin, New Zealand	18,800	88
93	Taree, Australia	18,110	115
94	Mount Isa, Australia	17,936	118
95	Broken Hill, Australia	17,456	118
96	Feilding, New Zealand	17,350	88
97	Karratha, Australia	17,013	122
98	Whakatane, New Zealand	16,700	86
99	Queenstown, New Zealand	15,450	118
100	Port Hedland, Australia	15,298	118
101	Broome, WA, Australia	14,660	126
102	Horsham, Australia	14,543	118
103	Port Lincoln, Australia	14,404	118
104	Oamaru, New Zealand	13,850	85
105	Sale, Australia	13,673	118
106	Te Awamutu, New Zealand	13,350	94
107	Balga, Australia	12,685	121
108	Wanaka, New Zealand	11,600	86
109	Mudgee, Australia	11,563	116
110	Byron Bay, Australia	10,538	113
111	Redcliffe, Australia	10,460	117
112	Esperance, Australia	10,218	118
113	Casino, NSW, Australia	10,000	117
114	Moe, Australia	8,700	112
115	Mansfield, Australia	8,600	118
116	Katoomba, Australia	8,000	118
117	Margaret River, Australia	8,000	121
118	Kerikeri, New Zealand	8,000	89
119	Ormond, VIC, Australia	8,000	117
120	Thames, New Zealand	7,500	94

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.