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
241	Troyes, France	62,782	74
242	Neu-Ulm, Germany	62,610	98
243	Rosenheim, Germany	61,512	105
244	Villach, Austria	61,221	124
245	Chambery, France	59,856	89
246	Wels, Austria	59,853	100
247	Niort, France	59,309	83
248	Neuilly sur Seine, France	59,267	99
249	Offenburg, Germany	58,769	95
250	Sarcelles, France	58,424	91
251	Friedrichshafen, Germany	58,099	108
252	Lorient, France	57,846	89
253	Stralsund, Germany	57,301	98
254	Mouscron, Belgium	56,626	99
255	Greifswald, Germany	56,445	93
256	Biel, Switzerland	56,378	156
257	Den Helder, Netherlands	56,296	122
258	Hamelin, Germany	56,260	91
259	Göppingen, Germany	55,846	101
260	Meaux, France	55,616	93
261	Bobigny, France	55,056	91
262	Wetzlar, Germany	54,959	97
263	Clamart, France	54,491	92
264	Vannes, France	54,420	94
265	Passau, Germany	54,401	85
266	Bad Salzuflen, Germany	54,000	100
267	Cholet, France	53,936	96
268	Gummersbach, Germany	53,183	94
269	Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, France	52,580	111
270	Bad Kreuznach, Germany	52,385	101

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.