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
361	Staffanstorp, Sweden	26,652	95
362	Kedainiai, Lithuania	26,648	68
363	Ogre, Latvia	26,579	67
364	Kilkenny, Ireland	26,500	115
365	Ludvika, Sweden	26,343	80
366	Douglas, Isle Of Man	26,218	128
367	Tralee, Ireland	26,079	116
368	Hjorring, Denmark	25,994	100
369	Telsiai, Lithuania	25,540	70
370	Huntingdon, United Kingdom	25,428	125
371	Falmouth, United Kingdom	25,223	114
372	Rhyl, Denbighshire, United Kingdom	25,149	108
373	Harstad, Norway	25,119	123
374	Grimstad, Norway	25,093	121
375	Elgin, United Kingdom	25,040	88
376	Whitehaven, United Kingdom	25,032	121
377	Newport, United Kingdom	25,000	112
378	Imatra, Finland	24,919	94
379	Härnösand, Sweden	24,689	91
380	Jessheim, Norway	24,547	137
381	Kristiansund, Norway	24,505	112
382	Newbridge, Ireland	24,366	178
383	Balbriggan, Ireland	24,322	127
384	Marsta, Sweden	24,068	89
385	Steinkjer, Norway	24,066	101
386	Ukmerge, Lithuania	23,878	67
387	Chichester, United Kingdom	23,700	111
388	Bathgate, United Kingdom	23,600	113
389	Portlaoise, Ireland	23,494	127
390	Frederikshavn, Denmark	23,423	94

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.