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
121	Brasov, Romania	253,200	64
122	Taganrog, Russia	251,050	48
123	Galati, Romania	249,432	56
124	Mytishchi, Russia	245,643	57
125	Rivne, Ukraine	245,323	26
126	Syktyvkar, Russia	243,536	47
127	Nizhnekamsk, Russia	240,097	50
128	Nalchik, Russia	239,054	47
129	Kosice, Slovakia	238,593	88
130	Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine	238,196	34
131	Petrozavodsk, Russia	235,694	51
132	Shakhty, Russia	235,492	48
133	Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine	234,712	34
134	Khimki, Russia	232,066	53
135	Dzerzhinsk, Russia	227,326	44
136	Blagoveshchensk, Russia	225,787	50
137	Korolyov, Russia	225,299	51
138	Ploiesti, Romania	224,406	55
139	Stary Oskol, Russia	223,921	48
140	Zelenograd, Russia	223,902	50
141	Podolsk, Russia	223,896	56
142	Veliky Novgorod, Russia	223,191	54
143	Angarsk, Russia	222,855	47
144	Ternopil, Ukraine	218,134	29
145	Lutsk, Ukraine	217,502	35
146	Czestochowa, Poland	215,905	66
147	Sosnowiec, Poland	211,275	69
148	Bila Tserkva, Ukraine	209,815	27
149	Pskov, Russia	209,426	46
150	Lyubertsy, Russia	208,397	62

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.