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	Price per month for a nomad	Living Index
451	Aosta, Italy	33,149	$1,950	93
452	Cesano Maderno, Italy	33,094	$1,914	91
453	Struga, North Macedonia	33,000	$868	41
454	Maspalomas, Spain	33,000	$1,894	92
455	Crema, Italy	32,981	$1,559	75
456	Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Italy	32,802	$1,617	80
457	Berat, Albania	32,606	$1,136	55
458	Gibraltar, Gibraltar	32,577	$2,886	140
459	Zajecar, Serbia	32,448	$1,211	58
460	Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina	32,342	$968	47
461	Oristano, Italy	32,156	$1,633	80
462	Bugibba, Malta	32,042	$1,750	85
463	Sitges, Spain	31,954	$1,681	80
464	Vrsac, Serbia	31,946	$933	45
465	La Vall d'Uixó, Spain	31,611	$1,491	71
466	Podujevo, Kosovo	31,417	$570	27
467	Lushnje, Albania	31,105	$1,201	58
468	Verbania, Italy	31,070	$1,694	81
469	Kicevo, North Macedonia	31,000	$880	43
470	Kos, Greece	30,947	$1,532	74
471	Puerto de la Cruz, Spain	30,849	$1,905	91
472	Vinkovci, Croatia	30,842	$1,250	60
473	Carbonia, Italy	30,447	$1,678	83
474	Frattamaggiore, Italy	30,329	$1,780	81
475	Bra, Italy	30,224	$1,549	74
476	Alba, Italy	29,910	$1,638	78
477	Canosa di Puglia, Italy	29,847	$1,462	70
478	Corinth, Greece	29,787	$1,501	72
479	Javea, Spain	29,760	$1,582	76
480	Rota, Spain	29,675	$1,648	79

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

Last update: November 10, 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.