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	72
302	Leskovac, Serbia	54,091	59
303	Kavala, Greece	54,027	64
304	Chania, Greece	53,910	75
305	Siena, Italy	53,903	86
306	Krusevac, Serbia	53,746	53
307	Evora, Portugal	53,591	82
308	Cuenca, Spain	53,512	79
309	Cava de’ Tirreni, Italy	53,488	71
310	Chios, Greece	53,408	69
311	Aversa, Italy	53,047	78
312	Tetovo, North Macedonia	53,000	47
313	Alexandroupoli, Greece	53,000	67
314	Civitavecchia, Italy	52,991	91
315	Sesimbra, Portugal	52,394	77
316	Castelo Branco, Portugal	52,291	52
317	Pula, Croatia	52,220	75
318	Amarante, Portugal	52,119	70
319	Lamia, Greece	52,006	56
320	Xanthi, Greece	52,000	62
321	Chieti, Italy	51,815	82
322	Tres Cantos, Spain	51,453	77
323	Rincon de la Victoria, Spain	51,300	74
324	Pordenone, Italy	51,229	78
325	Sabac, Serbia	51,163	40
326	Korce, Albania	51,152	48
327	Rio Tinto, Portugal	51,086	80
328	Segovia, Spain	51,011	76
329	Komotini, Greece	50,990	61
330	Caldas da Rainha, Portugal	50,917	73

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.