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
121	Penrith, Australia	13,343	$2,557	122
122	Campbelltown, Australia	13,193	$2,444	117
123	Balga, Australia	12,685	$2,626	126
124	Penshurst, NSW, Australia	12,673	$2,516	121
125	Wanneroo, Australia	12,113	$2,497	121
126	Wanaka, New Zealand	11,600	$1,670	80
127	Mudgee, Australia	11,563	$2,500	120
128	Bowral, Australia	10,764	$2,658	121
129	Byron Bay, Australia	10,538	$2,411	116
130	Redcliffe, Australia	10,460	$2,501	120
131	Esperance, Australia	10,218	$2,558	121
132	Casino, NSW, Australia	10,000	$2,519	120
133	Nowra NSW, Australia	9,598	$2,569	124
134	Tweed Heads, Australia	9,017	$2,511	120
135	Ballina, Australia	8,911	$2,525	122
136	Moe, Australia	8,700	$2,393	115
137	Fremantle, Australia	8,616	$2,502	121
138	Mansfield, Australia	8,600	$2,525	121
139	Forbes, Australia	8,481	$2,530	121
140	Katoomba, Australia	8,000	$2,519	121
141	Margaret River, Australia	8,000	$2,642	126
142	Ormond, VIC, Australia	8,000	$2,518	121
143	Kerikeri, New Zealand	8,000	$2,025	97
144	Deniliquin NSW, Australia	7,793	$2,615	125
145	Thames, New Zealand	7,500	$2,113	101
146	Noosa Heads, Australia	7,041	$2,649	127
147	Collie, Australia	7,000	$2,610	126
148	Yamba NSW, Australia	6,913	$2,500	119
149	Nuriootpa, Australia	6,300	$2,581	124
150	Winmalee, Australia	6,057	$2,597	124

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.