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
391	Dunakeszi, Hungary	42,747	58
392	Nagykanizsa, Hungary	42,502	50
393	Povazska Bystrica, Slovakia	41,936	76
394	Hodmezovasarhely, Hungary	41,781	57
395	Campina, Romania	41,554	53
396	Ramnicu Sarat, Romania	41,405	57
397	Dunaujvaros, Hungary	41,394	56
398	Zdunska Wola, Poland	40,996	64
399	Nove Zamky, Slovakia	40,840	70
400	Minsk Mazowiecki, Poland	40,816	73
401	Gorna Oryahovitsa, Bulgaria	40,000	48
402	Szczecinek, Poland	39,705	78
403	Michalovce, Slovakia	39,694	74
404	Targovishte, Bulgaria	39,578	43
405	Cahul, Moldova	39,500	34
406	Miercurea Ciuc, Romania	38,966	40
407	Swinoujscie, Poland	38,728	72
408	Boleslawiec, Poland	38,280	67
409	Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia	38,257	69
410	Reghin, Romania	38,055	53
411	Ungheni, Moldova	38,000	47
412	Silistra, Bulgaria	37,923	45
413	Sopot, Poland	37,903	74
414	Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania	37,640	49
415	Soroca, Moldova	37,400	34
416	Yuzhnouralsk, Russia	37,313	51
417	Lovech, Bulgaria	37,297	53
418	Dupnica, Bulgaria	37,081	48
419	Trebic, Czech Republic	37,042	65
420	Netishyn, Ukraine	36,497	35

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.