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
1	Moscow, Russia	12,700,000	83
2	London, United Kingdom	8,908,083	198
3	Saint Petersburg, Russia	5,597,763	64
4	Berlin, Germany	3,769,962	123
5	Madrid, Spain	3,332,035	113
6	Athens, Greece	3,090,508	87
7	Kyiv, Ukraine	2,908,249	49
8	Rome, Italy	2,848,084	101
9	Paris, France	2,133,111	132
10	Minsk, Belarus	1,992,862	44
11	Vienna, Austria	1,920,949	115
12	Bucharest, Romania	1,883,425	67
13	Warsaw, Poland	1,861,599	101
14	Hamburg, Germany	1,812,709	123
15	Budapest, Hungary	1,686,222	72
16	Barcelona, Spain	1,660,122	118
17	Novosibirsk, Russia	1,620,162	50
18	Yekaterinburg, Russia	1,495,066	57
19	Munich, Germany	1,484,226	142
20	Kharkiv, Ukraine	1,447,652	34
21	Milan, Italy	1,394,798	125
22	Sofia, Bulgaria	1,286,383	70
23	Kazan, Russia	1,257,341	55
24	Prague, Czech Republic	1,251,933	100
25	Nizhny Novgorod, Russia	1,244,254	55
26	Chelyabinsk, Russia	1,200,719	53
27	Belgrade, Serbia	1,197,714	76
28	Samara, Russia	1,163,645	51
29	Rostov-on-Don, Russia	1,114,806	51
30	Omsk, Russia	1,110,836	53

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.