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
271	Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands	51,834	117
272	Schweinfurt, Germany	51,610	96
273	Wolfenbüttel, Germany	51,569	94
274	Dornbirn, Austria	51,222	108
275	Rijswijk, Netherlands	51,027	132
276	Ravensburg, Germany	50,776	109
277	Massy, France	50,000	105
278	Albi, France	49,714	80
279	Bastia, France	48,768	91
280	Lorrach, Germany	48,307	130
281	Soest, Germany	47,460	102
282	La Courneuve, France	47,160	91
283	Herzogenrath, Germany	47,054	97
284	Lahr, Germany	47,000	97
285	Böblingen, Germany	46,714	113
286	Voorburg, Netherlands	45,945	132
287	Freising, Germany	45,857	100
288	Veldhoven, Netherlands	45,466	129
289	Leonberg, Germany	45,458	106
290	Drachten, Netherlands	45,186	100
291	Belfort, France	45,155	99
292	Chalon-sur-Saône, France	45,031	96
293	Dendermonde, Belgium	44,768	97
294	Weiden I.d.opf., Germany	44,753	94
295	Sète, France	44,712	98
296	Hof, Germany	44,522	106
297	Thun, Switzerland	43,905	177
298	Bellinzona, Switzerland	43,785	193
299	Beringen, Belgium	43,697	103
300	Weinheim, Germany	43,272	102

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.