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	$1,498	71
62	Trieste, Italy	200,609	$1,913	92
63	Almeria, Spain	200,578	$1,525	73
64	Alcala de Henares, Spain	199,184	$1,906	92
65	Braga, Portugal	193,349	$1,633	78
66	Parma, Italy	193,315	$1,963	94
67	Prato, Italy	191,150	$1,909	91
68	San Sebastian, Spain	188,743	$2,112	101
69	Fuenlabrada, Spain	188,736	$1,711	82
70	Brescia, Italy	187,567	$2,191	105
71	Getafe, Spain	185,899	$1,052	50
72	Modena, Italy	184,973	$1,886	90
73	Reggio Di Calabria, Italy	183,035	$1,377	66
74	Almada, Portugal	177,268	$1,848	88
75	Castello de la Plana, Spain	176,238	$1,496	71
76	Durres, Albania	175,110	$1,130	54
77	Burgos, Spain	174,451	$1,566	75
78	Albacete, Spain	173,206	$1,544	75
79	Santander, Spain	172,726	$1,571	75
80	Matosinhos, Portugal	172,586	$1,927	92
81	Alcorcón, Spain	171,772	$1,709	81
82	Oeiras, Portugal	171,767	$2,124	102
83	Amadora, Portugal	171,500	$1,704	82
84	Seixal, Portugal	166,525	$1,647	79
85	Piraeus, Greece	163,688	$1,507	72
86	Perugia, Italy	162,527	$1,485	72
87	Livorno, Italy	159,219	$1,909	91
88	Ravenna, Italy	159,116	$1,667	80
89	Guimaraes, Portugal	156,849	$1,603	76
90	Marbella, Spain	156,295	$2,613	125

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.