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	$4,230	204
452	Royan, France	19,029	$1,856	88
453	Wil, Switzerland	18,988	$3,145	150
454	Olten, Switzerland	17,280	$3,091	148
455	Marmande, France	17,239	$1,790	89
456	Sallanches, France	17,133	$1,888	89
457	Zandvoort, Netherlands	17,116	$2,526	120
458	Cham, Switzerland	17,060	$3,647	174
459	Eutin, Germany	16,948	$1,970	94
460	Bad Säckingen, Germany	16,673	$1,812	87
461	Solothurn, Switzerland	16,599	$2,787	133
462	Braunau, Austria	16,380	$2,429	114
463	Saalfelden, Austria	16,235	$2,142	107
464	Remagen, Germany	16,036	$1,602	77
465	Valkenburg, Netherlands	16,000	$2,572	123
466	Locarno, Switzerland	16,000	$2,942	141
467	Fontainebleau, France	15,945	$1,888	90
468	Arbon, Switzerland	15,853	$3,495	171
469	Wallisellen, Switzerland	15,603	$3,538	168
470	Mendrisio, Switzerland	15,562	$3,127	149
471	Monte Carlo, Monaco	15,507	$8,192	393
472	Langenthal, Switzerland	15,500	$3,550	168
473	Bitburg, Germany	15,228	$1,984	100
474	Fritzlar, Germany	14,814	$2,035	98
475	Schwyz, Switzerland	14,750	$3,674	176
476	Dinan, France	14,675	$1,855	86
477	Saint-Genis-Pouilly, France	14,558	$1,861	89
478	Martigny, Switzerland	14,361	$3,347	159
479	Füssen, Germany	14,139	$1,786	85
480	Hamont-Achel, Belgium	14,000	$2,191	106

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

Last update: November 10, 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.