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
451	Zgorzelec, Poland	29,534	71
452	Bochnia, Poland	29,405	72
453	Budaors, Hungary	29,398	69
454	Truskavets, Ukraine	29,220	32
455	Kroměříž, Czech Republic	29,216	79
456	Udomlya, Russia	28,972	48
457	Gizycko, Poland	28,803	69
458	Cugir, Romania	28,780	48
459	Topolcany, Slovakia	28,673	72
460	Esztergom, Hungary	28,642	58
461	Krotoszyn, Poland	28,580	72
462	Kiskunfelegyhaza, Hungary	28,562	59
463	Szentendre, Hungary	28,444	57
464	Sandanski, Bulgaria	28,058	49
465	Kholmsk, Russia	27,954	48
466	Lucenec, Slovakia	27,690	68
467	Gyongyos, Hungary	27,645	50
468	Šumperk, Czech Republic	27,469	79
469	Bucha, Ukraine	27,460	36
470	Wyszkow, Poland	26,935	70
471	Zakopane, Poland	26,662	79
472	Litvinov, Czech Republic	26,434	78
473	Ajka, Hungary	26,408	55
474	Jarocin, Poland	26,373	70
475	Vsetin, Czech Republic	26,104	80
476	Carei, Romania	25,911	52
477	Vynohradiv, Ukraine	25,481	29
478	Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic	25,289	94
479	Dubnica nad Vahom, Slovakia	25,263	68
480	Samokov, Bulgaria	25,138	51

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.