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
301	Huesca, Spain	54,136	77
302	Leskovac, Serbia	54,091	61
303	Kavala, Greece	54,027	65
304	Chania, Greece	53,910	82
305	Siena, Italy	53,903	98
306	Krusevac, Serbia	53,746	54
307	Evora, Portugal	53,591	83
308	Cuenca, Spain	53,512	73
309	Cava de’ Tirreni, Italy	53,488	77
310	Chios, Greece	53,408	71
311	Aversa, Italy	53,047	87
312	Tetovo, North Macedonia	53,000	49
313	Alexandroupoli, Greece	53,000	65
314	Civitavecchia, Italy	52,991	95
315	Sesimbra, Portugal	52,394	78
316	Castelo Branco, Portugal	52,291	56
317	Pula, Croatia	52,220	73
318	Amarante, Portugal	52,119	72
319	Lamia, Greece	52,006	60
320	Xanthi, Greece	52,000	66
321	Chieti, Italy	51,815	89
322	Tres Cantos, Spain	51,453	81
323	Rincon de la Victoria, Spain	51,300	79
324	Pordenone, Italy	51,229	82
325	Sabac, Serbia	51,163	47
326	Korce, Albania	51,152	48
327	Rio Tinto, Portugal	51,086	82
328	Segovia, Spain	51,011	80
329	Komotini, Greece	50,990	65
330	Caldas da Rainha, Portugal	50,917	74

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.