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
271	Matera, Italy	59,607	70
272	Alcoy, Spain	59,493	74
273	Smederevo, Serbia	59,261	46
274	Chalcis, Greece	59,125	67
275	Figueira da Foz, Portugal	58,962	58
276	Motril, Spain	58,939	68
277	Santarem, Portugal	58,671	62
278	Avila, Spain	57,741	69
279	Kalamata, Greece	57,620	69
280	Fano, Italy	57,529	87
281	Kraljevo, Serbia	57,432	37
282	Manfredonia, Italy	57,279	81
283	Kranj, Slovenia	57,065	83
284	Niksic, Montenegro	56,970	46
285	Olbia, Italy	56,512	84
286	Trani, Italy	56,217	80
287	Valjevo, Serbia	56,059	42
288	Serrai, Greece	56,000	60
289	Katerini, Greece	56,000	63
290	Cuneo, Italy	55,939	76
291	Fier, Albania	55,845	46
292	Montijo, Portugal	55,689	89
293	Agrigento, Italy	55,286	80
294	Trapani, Italy	55,219	61
295	Teramo, Italy	54,892	76
296	Avellino, Italy	54,847	74
297	Sanremo, Italy	54,807	89
298	Agrinio, Greece	54,253	68
299	Gjilan, Kosovo	54,239	37
300	Anzio, Italy	54,211	82

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

Last update: August 25, 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.