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
61	Taranto, Italy	201,100	$1,487	71
62	Trieste, Italy	200,609	$1,892	91
63	Almeria, Spain	200,578	$1,533	73
64	Alcala de Henares, Spain	199,184	$1,924	92
65	Braga, Portugal	193,349	$1,637	78
66	Parma, Italy	193,315	$1,966	94
67	Prato, Italy	191,150	$1,910	91
68	San Sebastian, Spain	188,743	$2,111	100
69	Fuenlabrada, Spain	188,736	$1,703	81
70	Brescia, Italy	187,567	$2,188	105
71	Getafe, Spain	185,899	$1,048	50
72	Modena, Italy	184,973	$1,886	90
73	Reggio Di Calabria, Italy	183,035	$1,386	66
74	Almada, Portugal	177,268	$1,826	88
75	Castello de la Plana, Spain	176,238	$1,497	71
76	Durres, Albania	175,110	$1,115	54
77	Burgos, Spain	174,451	$1,547	75
78	Albacete, Spain	173,206	$1,551	74
79	Santander, Spain	172,726	$1,640	78
80	Matosinhos, Portugal	172,586	$1,907	92
81	Alcorcón, Spain	171,772	$1,693	81
82	Oeiras, Portugal	171,767	$2,119	102
83	Amadora, Portugal	171,500	$1,703	82
84	Seixal, Portugal	166,525	$1,635	78
85	Piraeus, Greece	163,688	$1,481	71
86	Perugia, Italy	162,527	$1,474	71
87	Livorno, Italy	159,219	$1,905	90
88	Ravenna, Italy	159,116	$1,660	80
89	Guimaraes, Portugal	156,849	$1,577	76
90	Marbella, Spain	156,295	$2,592	125

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

Last update: November 3, 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.