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	92
422	Nyon, Switzerland	19,738	194
423	Someren, Netherlands	19,368	120
424	Scheveningen, Netherlands	19,335	116
425	Kufstein, Austria	19,223	110
426	Vevey, Switzerland	19,220	155
427	Baden, Switzerland	19,168	179
428	Royan, France	19,029	84
429	Wil, Switzerland	18,988	161
430	Olten, Switzerland	17,280	144
431	Marmande, France	17,239	86
432	Sallanches, France	17,133	86
433	Zandvoort, Netherlands	17,116	119
434	Cham, Switzerland	17,060	165
435	Eutin, Germany	16,948	94
436	Bad Säckingen, Germany	16,673	89
437	Solothurn, Switzerland	16,599	130
438	Braunau, Austria	16,380	109
439	Saalfelden, Austria	16,235	103
440	Remagen, Germany	16,036	79
441	Valkenburg, Netherlands	16,000	120
442	Locarno, Switzerland	16,000	139
443	Fontainebleau, France	15,945	54
444	Arbon, Switzerland	15,853	159
445	Wallisellen, Switzerland	15,603	157
446	Mendrisio, Switzerland	15,562	145
447	Monte Carlo, Monaco	15,507	324
448	Langenthal, Switzerland	15,500	158
449	Bitburg, Germany	15,228	99
450	Schwyz, Switzerland	14,750	164

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: August 25, 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.