The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word BURG
B
U
R
G
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "City" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case city = burg.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BURG mean?
BURG noun- A city or town.
- A fortified town in medieval Europe.
- Burger