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
421	Albertville, France	19,812	88
422	Nyon, Switzerland	19,738	216
423	Someren, Netherlands	19,368	127
424	Scheveningen, Netherlands	19,335	127
425	Kufstein, Austria	19,223	124
426	Vevey, Switzerland	19,220	186
427	Baden, Switzerland	19,168	210
428	Royan, France	19,029	94
429	Wil, Switzerland	18,988	177
430	Olten, Switzerland	17,280	147
431	Marmande, France	17,239	91
432	Sallanches, France	17,133	91
433	Zandvoort, Netherlands	17,116	126
434	Cham, Switzerland	17,060	175
435	Eutin, Germany	16,948	102
436	Bad Säckingen, Germany	16,673	98
437	Solothurn, Switzerland	16,599	141
438	Braunau, Austria	16,380	112
439	Saalfelden, Austria	16,235	127
440	Remagen, Germany	16,036	86
441	Locarno, Switzerland	16,000	139
442	Valkenburg, Netherlands	16,000	130
443	Fontainebleau, France	15,945	91
444	Arbon, Switzerland	15,853	170
445	Wallisellen, Switzerland	15,603	171
446	Mendrisio, Switzerland	15,562	147
447	Monte Carlo, Monaco	15,507	260
448	Langenthal, Switzerland	15,500	152
449	Bitburg, Germany	15,228	106
450	Schwyz, Switzerland	14,750	175

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.