The internet sees the network exit
Websites communicate with the public address presented by your connection. The path from your home or phone to that public endpoint can pass through centralized provider infrastructure.
A nearby major city is common
ISPs often organize networks around larger regional hubs. A database may label a range with the hub city even when customers using the range live across surrounding towns.
A distant city can also happen
Mobile gateways, VPNs, enterprise networks and satellite providers can move the visible exit much farther away. A dynamic address may also retain an older database mapping after being reassigned.
Should you worry?
An unexpected city alone is not evidence of hacking. Check the ISP/ASN first. If it still belongs to your expected provider and you are not seeing other account/security warnings, the simplest explanation is usually routing or geolocation data.
How to investigate
- Check your public IP.
- Check its ISP and ASN.
- Compare two geolocation providers.
- Disable a VPN temporarily if appropriate.
- Recheck after the ISP assigns a new public IP.
Why nearby cities are especially common
Broadband and mobile traffic is often aggregated through regional infrastructure. A database may associate the whole address range with that gateway city even though subscribers are spread across surrounding towns and districts.
Should you try to “fix” the city?
If a service depends on the wrong city, first confirm your ISP, ASN and country. Some geolocation providers accept correction requests, but changing the result may require the network operator or data provider to update the mapping rather than anything on your own device.