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
181	Asnières-sur-Seine, France	89,662	90
182	Tubingen, Germany	89,447	123
183	Heerlen, Netherlands	87,086	112
184	Dunkirk, France	86,788	100
185	Worms, Germany	86,283	95
186	Konstanz, Germany	85,692	117
187	Versailles, France	83,587	125
188	Courbevoie, France	81,516	87
189	Lucerne, Switzerland	81,284	194
190	Hengelo, Netherlands	81,140	114
191	Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany	81,128	92
192	Beziers, France	80,341	95
193	Mechelen, Belgium	80,000	103
194	Purmerend, Netherlands	79,915	126
195	Schiedam, Netherlands	78,730	124
196	Lelystad, Netherlands	78,598	90
197	La Rochelle, France	78,535	88
198	Aalst, Belgium	78,271	110
199	St. Gallen, Switzerland	78,213	180
200	Rueil-Malmaison, France	78,186	106
201	Champigny-sur-Marne, France	77,724	91
202	Pau, France	77,066	79
203	Zaandam, Netherlands	76,804	129
204	Kortrijk, Belgium	76,700	96
205	Hoofddorp, Netherlands	76,638	160
206	Merignac, France	75,729	91
207	Wilhelmshaven, Germany	75,728	83
208	Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France	75,441	100
209	Antibes, France	75,130	112
210	Minden, Germany	75,000	91

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.