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
421	Trinec, Czech Republic	36,436	79
422	Mangalia, Romania	36,364	52
423	Pascani, Romania	35,897	56
424	Chrzanow, Poland	35,881	70
425	Levice, Slovakia	35,830	60
426	Alatyr, Russia	35,646	48
427	Razgrad, Bulgaria	35,049	41
428	Goryachiy Klyuch, Russia	34,585	52
429	Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania	34,275	53
430	Vac, Hungary	34,001	56
431	Cieszyn, Poland	33,757	70
432	Bardejov, Slovakia	33,405	71
433	Znojmo, Czech Republic	33,279	74
434	Svishtov, Bulgaria	33,000	48
435	Dorohoi, Romania	32,778	51
436	Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia	32,748	73
437	Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland	32,594	71
438	Sighisoara, Romania	32,570	49
439	Ostroda, Poland	32,547	77
440	Godollo, Hungary	32,524	61
441	Muravlenko, Russia	31,445	48
442	Mlava, Poland	31,130	73
443	Trutnov, Czech Republic	31,088	77
444	Rădăuți, Romania	31,074	46
445	Kolin, Czech Republic	30,826	124
446	Smolyan, Bulgaria	30,507	38
447	Ruzomberok, Slovakia	29,793	72
448	Augustow, Poland	29,785	80
449	Szekszard, Hungary	29,707	53
450	Piestany, Slovakia	29,587	68

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.