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
361	Petrosani, Romania	51,476	57
362	Teplice, Czech Republic	51,414	70
363	Vidin, Bulgaria	50,977	41
364	Prievidza, Slovakia	50,919	62
365	Chomutov, Czech Republic	50,149	81
366	Jihlava, Czech Republic	50,132	68
367	Lugoj, Romania	49,742	42
368	Rumia, Poland	49,672	73
369	Eger, Hungary	49,499	53
370	Slonim, Belarus	49,441	25
371	Kardzhali, Bulgaria	49,421	36
372	Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria	49,061	38
373	Kazanlak, Bulgaria	49,032	44
374	Apatity, Russia	48,748	49
375	Zawiercie, Poland	48,412	67
376	Turda, Romania	47,744	54
377	Kyustendil, Bulgaria	47,640	41
378	Starogard Gdanski, Poland	47,037	64
379	Slobozia, Romania	45,891	51
380	Krosno, Poland	45,715	58
381	Nadym, Russia	45,584	48
382	Alexandria, Romania	45,434	43
383	Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic	45,317	69
384	Prerov, Czech Republic	45,095	64
385	Prostejov, Czech Republic	45,062	75
386	Montana, Bulgaria	44,502	42
387	Vawkavysk, Belarus	44,004	25
388	Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic	43,883	74
389	Kolobrzeg, Poland	43,364	66
390	Zvolen, Slovakia	42,778	79

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.