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
61	Taranto, Italy	201,100	65
62	Trieste, Italy	200,609	93
63	Almeria, Spain	200,578	71
64	Alcala de Henares, Spain	199,184	91
65	Braga, Portugal	193,349	79
66	Parma, Italy	193,315	94
67	Prato, Italy	191,150	96
68	San Sebastian, Spain	188,743	93
69	Fuenlabrada, Spain	188,736	87
70	Brescia, Italy	187,567	92
71	Getafe, Spain	185,899	87
72	Modena, Italy	184,973	101
73	Reggio Di Calabria, Italy	183,035	70
74	Almada, Portugal	177,268	99
75	Castello de la Plana, Spain	176,238	76
76	Durres, Albania	175,110	52
77	Burgos, Spain	174,451	74
78	Albacete, Spain	173,206	81
79	Santander, Spain	172,726	78
80	Matosinhos, Portugal	172,586	91
81	Alcorcón, Spain	171,772	84
82	Oeiras, Portugal	171,767	100
83	Amadora, Portugal	171,500	87
84	Seixal, Portugal	166,525	82
85	Piraeus, Greece	163,688	71
86	Perugia, Italy	162,527	73
87	Livorno, Italy	159,219	89
88	Ravenna, Italy	159,116	83
89	Guimaraes, Portugal	156,849	83
90	Marbella, Spain	156,295	81

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.