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
451	Baden, Switzerland	19,168	$4,264	202
452	Royan, France	19,029	$1,832	88
453	Wil, Switzerland	18,988	$3,185	152
454	Olten, Switzerland	17,280	$3,096	148
455	Marmande, France	17,239	$1,816	88
456	Sallanches, France	17,133	$1,830	88
457	Zandvoort, Netherlands	17,116	$2,489	120
458	Cham, Switzerland	17,060	$3,649	173
459	Eutin, Germany	16,948	$1,971	95
460	Bad Säckingen, Germany	16,673	$1,857	89
461	Solothurn, Switzerland	16,599	$2,800	133
462	Braunau, Austria	16,380	$2,385	114
463	Saalfelden, Austria	16,235	$2,237	108
464	Remagen, Germany	16,036	$1,648	79
465	Valkenburg, Netherlands	16,000	$2,529	122
466	Locarno, Switzerland	16,000	$2,925	141
467	Fontainebleau, France	15,945	$1,878	90
468	Arbon, Switzerland	15,853	$3,763	172
469	Wallisellen, Switzerland	15,603	$3,542	168
470	Mendrisio, Switzerland	15,562	$3,106	149
471	Monte Carlo, Monaco	15,507	$8,076	391
472	Langenthal, Switzerland	15,500	$3,541	168
473	Bitburg, Germany	15,228	$2,093	100
474	Fritzlar, Germany	14,814	$2,041	97
475	Schwyz, Switzerland	14,750	$3,672	176
476	Dinan, France	14,675	$1,785	86
477	Saint-Genis-Pouilly, France	14,558	$1,825	88
478	Martigny, Switzerland	14,361	$3,297	158
479	Füssen, Germany	14,139	$1,771	85
480	Hamont-Achel, Belgium	14,000	$2,249	107

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

Last update: November 3, 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.