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
121	Collie, Australia	7,000	112
122	Nuriootpa, Australia	6,300	115
123	Northam, Australia	6,000	110
124	Kununurra, Australia	5,300	112
125	Cromwell, New Zealand	5,000	91
126	Ningi, Australia	5,000	112
127	Waihi, New Zealand	4,700	94
128	Dargaville, New Zealand	4,600	94
129	Romsey, Australia	4,400	113
130	Wairoa, New Zealand	4,300	94
131	Paeroa, New Zealand	4,000	94
132	Greymouth, New Zealand	4,000	95
133	Port Douglas, Australia	3,500	112
134	Exmouth, Australia	3,500	112
135	Charleville, Australia	3,300	112
136	Derby, Australia	3,300	112
137	Gore, New Zealand	3,100	94
138	Berry, Australia	2,700	112
139	Paihia, New Zealand	1,800	95
140	Southern Cross, Australia	700	113

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: February 24, 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.