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
121	Sassari, Italy	126,576	74
122	Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain	124,152	81
123	Algeciras, Spain	123,639	57
124	Setubal, Portugal	123,519	83
125	Leon, Spain	121,281	75
126	Bergamo, Italy	120,569	94
127	Monza, Italy	120,204	105
128	Forli, Italy	117,913	99
129	Trento, Italy	117,317	100
130	Barcelos, Portugal	116,766	61
131	Pescara, Italy	116,286	98
132	Siracusa, Italy	115,923	74
133	Vicenza, Italy	112,953	92
134	Jaen, Spain	111,888	69
135	Cadiz, Spain	111,811	92
136	Rijeka, Croatia	107,964	79
137	Corfu, Greece	107,879	78
138	Acharnes, Greece	106,943	66
139	Terni, Italy	106,677	67
140	Roquetas de Mar, Spain	106,510	67
141	Funchal, Portugal	105,795	96
142	Bolzano-Bozen, Italy	105,713	105
143	Nikaia, Greece	105,430	69
144	Girona, Spain	104,320	92
145	Ourense, Spain	104,250	66
146	Kamez, Albania	104,190	55
147	Menorca, Spain	102,477	81
148	Piacenza, Italy	102,191	98
149	Barakaldo, Spain	101,229	82
150	Novara, Italy	100,910	75

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.