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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
31
285,000
116
32
275,300
95
33
273,077
122
34
264,695
128
35
260,700
88
36
260,700
115
37
258,834
126
38
256,000
148
39
255,066
97
40
251,462
107
41
249,000
89
42
247,447
111
43
245,199
90
44
239,000
113
45
233,700
108
46
229,941
134
47
229,060
112
48
228,600
134
49
215,121
140
50
214,651
96
51
210,000
147
52
206,091
119
53
203,200
117
54
202,200
118
55
201,889
92
56
198,974
128
57
195,000
102
58
190,098
112
59
184,479
122
60
183,638
115
Page 2 of 17 • 500 entries total Show more Page 1

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: February 24, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How is affordability determined in this ranking?
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.
Why does city size affect cost of living?
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.
Should I choose a smaller city to save money?
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.
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Cost of Living Index Most Popular Cities Affordable Cities by Size