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 Europe Northern Europe Western Europe Eastern Europe Southern Europe

Rank	City	Population	Living Index
301	Cartagena, Spain	218,050	71
302	Messina, Italy	217,734	73
303	Oviedo, Spain	217,584	79
304	Lutsk, Ukraine	217,502	35
305	Czestochowa, Poland	215,905	66
306	Trondheim, Norway	215,121	140
307	Erfurt, Germany	215,000	103
308	Oulu, Finland	214,651	96
309	Cascais, Portugal	214,158	111
310	Jerez de la Frontera, Spain	213,231	77
311	Lübeck, Germany	212,958	112
312	Sosnowiec, Poland	211,275	69
313	Padova, Italy	210,401	103
314	Cork, Ireland	210,000	147
315	Bila Tserkva, Ukraine	209,815	27
316	Mainz, Germany	209,779	109
317	Pskov, Russia	209,426	46
318	Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain	209,395	93
319	Oberhausen, Germany	209,292	106
320	Lyubertsy, Russia	208,397	62
321	Radom, Poland	208,091	61
322	Rostock, Germany	207,830	89
323	Linz, Austria	207,812	106
324	Solihull, United Kingdom	206,091	119
325	Pamplona, Spain	205,762	94
326	Kassel, Germany	204,021	99
327	Luton, United Kingdom	203,200	117
328	Charleroi, Belgium	202,730	95
329	Warrington, United Kingdom	202,200	118
330	Turku, Finland	201,889	92

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.