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
391	Sala, Sweden	22,994	75
392	Mullingar, Ireland	22,667	131
393	Ringsted, Denmark	22,657	107
394	Visby, Sweden	22,593	87
395	Letterkenny, Ireland	22,549	108
396	Kiruna, Sweden	22,454	97
397	Visaginas, Lithuania	22,361	58
398	Greystones, Ireland	22,009	131
399	Jekabpils, Latvia	22,000	65
400	Portadown, United Kingdom	22,000	115
401	Haderslev, Denmark	21,973	100
402	Elverum, Norway	21,775	111
403	Athlone, Ireland	21,000	155
404	Sligo, Ireland	20,608	99
405	Celbridge, Ireland	20,601	131
406	Nesodden, Norway	20,544	117
407	Birkerød, Denmark	20,539	97
408	Truro, United Kingdom	20,332	119
409	Varkaus, Finland	20,257	83
410	Plunge, Lithuania	20,041	70
411	Antrim, United Kingdom	20,001	115
412	Varnamo, Sweden	19,778	91
413	Tukums, Latvia	19,729	64
414	Dorchester, United Kingdom	19,500	111
415	Jakobstad, Finland	19,436	84
416	Naantali, Finland	19,426	91
417	Brabrand, Denmark	19,350	106
418	Viljandi, Estonia	19,100	63
419	Kretinga, Lithuania	19,010	65
420	Saint Peter Port, Guernsey	18,958	177

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.