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	Guildford, United Kingdom	66,773	158
182	Sandefjord, Norway	66,366	122
183	Hounslow, United Kingdom	66,292	119
184	Boras, Sweden	66,273	99
185	Seinajoki, Finland	66,157	78
186	Torquay, United Kingdom	65,388	117
187	Rovaniemi, Finland	65,329	86
188	Sodertalje, Sweden	64,619	105
189	Lowestoft, United Kingdom	64,358	116
190	Jelgava, Latvia	63,534	60
191	Rochester, United Kingdom	62,982	108
192	Karlstad, Sweden	62,797	89
193	Randers, Denmark	62,687	103
194	Scarborough, United Kingdom	61,749	101
195	Wrexham, United Kingdom	61,603	104
196	Kolding, Denmark	60,508	101
197	Wallasey, United Kingdom	60,284	116
198	Mölndal, Sweden	60,000	84
199	Taunton, United Kingdom	60,000	106
200	Alytus, Lithuania	59,964	58
201	Sarpsborg, Norway	59,906	127
202	Kirkcaldy, United Kingdom	59,784	111
203	Tonsberg, Norway	59,237	126
204	Ashford, United Kingdom	58,936	112
205	Hereford, United Kingdom	58,896	117
206	Alesund, Norway	58,683	112
207	Horsens, Denmark	58,646	104
208	Margate, United Kingdom	58,465	118
209	St Albans, United Kingdom	57,795	147
210	Jurmala, Latvia	57,671	66

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.