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
451	Dinan, France	14,675	85
452	Saint-Genis-Pouilly, France	14,558	86
453	Martigny, Switzerland	14,361	145
454	Füssen, Germany	14,139	85
455	Hamont-Achel, Belgium	14,000	105
456	Overpelt, Belgium	14,000	104
457	Abensberg, Germany	14,000	84
458	Montévrain, France	13,934	94
459	Amstetten, Austria	13,878	86
460	Liestal, Switzerland	13,807	154
461	Texel, Netherlands	13,575	116
462	Meilen, Switzerland	13,515	156
463	Lourdes, France	13,509	86
464	Fontenay-le-Fleury, France	13,455	88
465	Rheinfelden, Switzerland	13,360	94
466	Gmunden, Austria	13,104	103
467	Gueret, France	12,840	79
468	Uzwil, Switzerland	12,664	157
469	Glarus, Switzerland	12,500	157
470	Krems, Austria	12,500	95
471	Voerendaal, Netherlands	12,475	120
472	Tulln an der Donau, Austria	12,357	107
473	Grez-Doiceau, Belgium	12,288	99
474	Chateaubriant, France	12,189	84
475	Buchs, Switzerland	12,187	143
476	Walldürn, Germany	11,848	90
477	Delemont, Switzerland	11,809	138
478	Staefa, Switzerland	11,567	159
479	Zofingen, Switzerland	11,543	147
480	Vilsbiburg, Germany	11,426	94

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.