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
481	Zărnești, Romania	24,926	51
482	Breclav, Czech Republic	24,862	68
483	Cadca, Slovakia	24,315	71
484	Skawina, Poland	24,302	72
485	Novy Jicin, Czech Republic	24,295	81
486	Sala, Slovakia	24,099	70
487	Siofok, Hungary	24,021	53
488	Karlovo, Bulgaria	23,919	40
489	Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic	23,534	76
490	Lubliniec, Poland	23,430	73
491	Troyan, Bulgaria	23,422	46
492	Dunajska Streda, Slovakia	23,419	64
493	Trebišov, Slovakia	23,305	63
494	Vranov Nad Toplou, Slovakia	23,109	76
495	Chrudim, Czech Republic	23,031	80
496	Hlohovec, Slovakia	22,575	74
497	Świebodzice, Poland	22,539	70
498	Vyskov, Czech Republic	21,751	86
499	Pezinok, Slovakia	21,656	71
500	Kremenets, Ukraine	21,451	33

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.