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
481	Cakovec, Croatia	27,122	63
482	Mirano, Italy	27,045	84
483	Pinhal Novo, Portugal	26,991	79
484	Alhaurin el Grande, Spain	26,879	77
485	Fidenza, Italy	26,770	88
486	Buccinasco, Italy	26,711	86
487	Falconara Marittima, Italy	26,565	80
488	Peniche, Portugal	26,431	87
489	Calp, Spain	25,854	85
490	Velenje, Slovenia	25,800	83
491	Cesenatico, Italy	25,796	82
492	Novelda, Spain	25,771	77
493	Treviglio, Italy	25,736	87
494	Trebinje, Bosnia And Herzegovina	25,589	41
495	Albignasego, Italy	25,577	85
496	Tortona, Italy	25,227	82
497	Adra, Spain	25,195	72
498	Doboj, Bosnia And Herzegovina	25,132	40
499	Koper, Slovenia	24,900	87
500	Solin, Croatia	24,862	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.