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	68
242	Neu-Ulm, Germany	62,610	92
243	Rosenheim, Germany	61,512	111
244	Villach, Austria	61,221	100
245	Chambery, France	59,856	78
246	Wels, Austria	59,853	96
247	Niort, France	59,309	77
248	Neuilly sur Seine, France	59,267	93
249	Offenburg, Germany	58,769	92
250	Sarcelles, France	58,424	86
251	Friedrichshafen, Germany	58,099	121
252	Lorient, France	57,846	83
253	Stralsund, Germany	57,301	89
254	Mouscron, Belgium	56,626	97
255	Greifswald, Germany	56,445	90
256	Biel, Switzerland	56,378	134
257	Den Helder, Netherlands	56,296	95
258	Hamelin, Germany	56,260	93
259	Göppingen, Germany	55,846	92
260	Meaux, France	55,616	63
261	Bobigny, France	55,056	83
262	Wetzlar, Germany	54,959	94
263	Clamart, France	54,491	94
264	Vannes, France	54,420	92
265	Passau, Germany	54,401	82
266	Bad Salzuflen, Germany	54,000	92
267	Cholet, France	53,936	91
268	Gummersbach, Germany	53,183	86
269	Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, France	52,580	102
270	Bad Kreuznach, Germany	52,385	101

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.