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
181	Timisoara, Romania	319,279	57
182	Cherepovets, Russia	318,107	49
183	Malmo, Sweden	316,588	104
184	Kaunas, Lithuania	315,993	78
185	Munster, Germany	314,332	117
186	Espoo, Finland	314,152	112
187	Mannheim, Germany	310,000	105
188	Kurgan, Russia	309,285	50
189	Vologda, Russia	308,530	44
190	Nottingham, United Kingdom	305,700	112
191	Leicester, United Kingdom	305,700	116
192	Ostrava, Czech Republic	304,880	72
193	Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal	303,854	84
194	Oryol, Russia	303,696	40
195	Montpellier, France	302,454	100
196	Vladikavkaz, Russia	301,543	50
197	Patras, Greece	300,000	70
198	Wiesbaden, Germany	299,946	119
199	Catania, Italy	298,037	72
200	Poltava, Ukraine	297,600	32
201	Bialystok, Poland	297,554	71
202	Valladolid, Spain	297,459	80
203	Kherson, Ukraine	294,941	29
204	Chernihiv, Ukraine	293,969	36
205	Bradford, United Kingdom	293,717	104
206	Tambov, Russia	293,661	44
207	Vigo, Spain	293,652	78
208	Bergen, Norway	292,482	132
209	Strasbourg, France	291,313	103
210	Iasi, Romania	290,422	57

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.