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
241	Helsingor, Denmark	47,364	121
242	Inverness, United Kingdom	47,060	124
243	Wellingborough, United Kingdom	46,959	118
244	Hyvinkaa, Finland	46,903	96
245	Ayr, South Ayrshire, United Kingdom	46,849	93
246	Bridgend, United Kingdom	46,757	120
247	Perth, United Kingdom	46,660	89
248	Jarvenpaa, Finland	46,475	98
249	Arendal, Norway	46,406	111
250	Yeovil, United Kingdom	46,000	109
251	Lancaster, United Kingdom	46,000	100
252	Lohja, Finland	45,654	80
253	Chippenham, United Kingdom	45,337	107
254	Folkestone, United Kingdom	45,273	111
255	Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, United Kingdom	45,000	108
256	Salisbury, United Kingdom	45,000	127
257	Herning, Denmark	44,557	98
258	Kohtla-Järve, Estonia	44,500	58
259	Trollhattan, Sweden	44,498	82
260	Drogheda, Ireland	44,135	169
261	Ostersund, Sweden	44,000	92
262	Merthyr Tydfil, United Kingdom	43,820	112
263	Parnu, Estonia	43,528	72
264	Naestved, Denmark	43,508	124
265	Karmøy, Norway	43,404	123
266	Canterbury, United Kingdom	43,400	130
267	Silkeborg, Denmark	43,313	117
268	Dundalk, Ireland	43,112	111
269	Bexhill, United Kingdom	43,107	125
270	Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom	43,013	165

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.