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
331	Corroios, Portugal	50,812	79
332	Adeje, Tenerife, Spain	50,167	89
333	Vila Real, Portugal	49,574	64
334	Rio de Mouro, Portugal	49,493	75
335	Campobasso, Italy	49,431	59
336	Amora, Portugal	49,352	84
337	Kikinda, Serbia	49,326	54
338	Pec, Kosovo	48,962	31
339	Vic, Spain	48,364	78
340	Kukes, Albania	47,985	48
341	Figueres, Spain	47,879	83
342	Mantova, Italy	47,790	92
343	Rieti, Italy	47,751	84
344	Covilha, Portugal	46,457	76
345	Alzira, Spain	46,421	79
346	Gallarate, Italy	46,361	100
347	Frosinone, Italy	46,323	64
348	Mitrovica, Kosovo	46,132	34
349	Terracina, Italy	46,033	86
350	Biella, Italy	45,740	77
351	Denia, Spain	45,622	87
352	Lecco, Italy	45,501	82
353	Ascoli Piceno, Italy	45,457	77
354	Vercelli, Italy	45,132	77
355	Puertollano, Spain	45,127	67
356	Senigallia, Italy	45,027	88
357	Slavonski Brod, Croatia	45,005	59
358	Seregno, Italy	44,789	93
359	Ourem, Portugal	44,538	81
360	Pozarevac, Serbia	44,183	49

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.