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
481	Coimbra, Portugal	140,838	77
482	Heraklion, Greece	140,730	78
483	Pecs, Hungary	140,330	60
484	Blackpool, United Kingdom	139,720	98
485	Brest, France	139,619	74
486	Bolton, United Kingdom	139,403	120
487	Maykop, Russia	139,084	51
488	Middlesbrough, United Kingdom	139,000	99
489	Dos Hermanas, Spain	138,981	81
490	Banja Luka, Bosnia And Herzegovina	138,963	58
491	Kolomna, Russia	138,693	56
492	Tarragona, Spain	138,262	88
493	Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain	137,711	87
494	Tours, France	137,658	84
495	Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal	137,540	70
496	York, United Kingdom	137,000	111
497	Reykjavik, Iceland	136,894	192
498	Offenbach, Germany	136,824	100
499	Stockport, United Kingdom	136,082	116
500	Odintsovo, Russia	135,867	49

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.