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
331	Debrecen, Hungary	201,704	61
332	Loures, Portugal	201,632	80
333	Groningen, Netherlands	201,242	106
334	Taranto, Italy	201,100	65
335	Trieste, Italy	200,609	93
336	Almeria, Spain	200,578	71
337	Alcala de Henares, Spain	199,184	91
338	Portsmouth, United Kingdom	198,974	128
339	Biysk, Russia	198,433	49
340	Rzeszow, Poland	197,536	74
341	Liege, Belgium	197,013	105
342	Oradea, Romania	196,367	54
343	Dudley, United Kingdom	195,000	102
344	Braga, Portugal	193,349	79
345	Rybinsk, Russia	193,341	57
346	Parma, Italy	193,315	94
347	Geneva, Switzerland	191,557	207
348	Prato, Italy	191,150	96
349	Colchester, United Kingdom	190,098	112
350	Burgas, Bulgaria	189,741	57
351	San Sebastian, Spain	188,743	93
352	Fuenlabrada, Spain	188,736	87
353	Cherbourg, France	188,335	76
354	Brussels, Belgium	188,137	128
355	Brescia, Italy	187,567	92
356	Abakan, Russia	187,239	48
357	Balakovo, Russia	186,012	47
358	Hagen, Germany	186,000	105
359	Getafe, Spain	185,899	87
360	Gliwice, Poland	185,450	70

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.