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	76
332	Adeje, Tenerife, Spain	50,167	85
333	Vila Real, Portugal	49,574	58
334	Rio de Mouro, Portugal	49,493	81
335	Campobasso, Italy	49,431	54
336	Amora, Portugal	49,352	83
337	Kikinda, Serbia	49,326	49
338	Pec, Kosovo	48,962	31
339	Vic, Spain	48,364	65
340	Kukes, Albania	47,985	35
341	Figueres, Spain	47,879	80
342	Mantova, Italy	47,790	85
343	Rieti, Italy	47,751	81
344	Covilha, Portugal	46,457	57
345	Alzira, Spain	46,421	43
346	Gallarate, Italy	46,361	93
347	Frosinone, Italy	46,323	62
348	Mitrovica, Kosovo	46,132	33
349	Terracina, Italy	46,033	79
350	Biella, Italy	45,740	69
351	Denia, Spain	45,622	85
352	Lecco, Italy	45,501	77
353	Ascoli Piceno, Italy	45,457	77
354	Vercelli, Italy	45,132	73
355	Puertollano, Spain	45,127	45
356	Senigallia, Italy	45,027	84
357	Slavonski Brod, Croatia	45,005	54
358	Seregno, Italy	44,789	88
359	Ourem, Portugal	44,538	77
360	Pozarevac, Serbia	44,183	38

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.