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	74
422	Mangalia, Romania	36,364	51
423	Pascani, Romania	35,897	50
424	Chrzanow, Poland	35,881	68
425	Levice, Slovakia	35,830	61
426	Alatyr, Russia	35,646	46
427	Razgrad, Bulgaria	35,049	39
428	Goryachiy Klyuch, Russia	34,585	44
429	Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania	34,275	53
430	Vac, Hungary	34,001	62
431	Cieszyn, Poland	33,757	66
432	Bardejov, Slovakia	33,405	66
433	Znojmo, Czech Republic	33,279	76
434	Svishtov, Bulgaria	33,000	44
435	Dorohoi, Romania	32,778	49
436	Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia	32,748	74
437	Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland	32,594	44
438	Sighisoara, Romania	32,570	45
439	Ostroda, Poland	32,547	72
440	Godollo, Hungary	32,524	67
441	Muravlenko, Russia	31,445	45
442	Mlava, Poland	31,130	66
443	Trutnov, Czech Republic	31,088	73
444	Rădăuți, Romania	31,074	50
445	Kolin, Czech Republic	30,826	109
446	Smolyan, Bulgaria	30,507	34
447	Ruzomberok, Slovakia	29,793	73
448	Augustow, Poland	29,785	77
449	Szekszard, Hungary	29,707	57
450	Piestany, Slovakia	29,587	59

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.