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	Price per month for a nomad	Living Index
121	Rivne, Ukraine	245,323	$733	35
122	Syktyvkar, Russia	243,536	$1,079	54
123	Nizhnekamsk, Russia	240,097	$1,100	55
124	Nalchik, Russia	239,054	$973	47
125	Kosice, Slovakia	238,593	$1,824	87
126	Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine	238,196	$786	38
127	Shakhty, Russia	235,492	$1,093	54
128	Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine	234,712	$730	35
129	Khimki, Russia	232,066	$1,022	49
130	Dzerzhinsk, Russia	227,326	$1,132	53
131	Blagoveshchensk, Russia	225,787	$1,147	54
132	Korolyov, Russia	225,299	$1,339	64
133	Kremenchuk, Ukraine	224,997	$706	34
134	Ploiesti, Romania	224,406	$1,160	55
135	Stary Oskol, Russia	223,921	$1,114	54
136	Zelenograd, Russia	223,902	$1,042	49
137	Podolsk, Russia	223,896	$982	47
138	Veliky Novgorod, Russia	223,191	$807	39
139	Angarsk, Russia	222,855	$1,074	51
140	Ternopil, Ukraine	218,134	$712	34
141	Lutsk, Ukraine	217,502	$758	36
142	Czestochowa, Poland	215,905	$1,224	58
143	Sosnowiec, Poland	211,275	$1,327	63
144	Bila Tserkva, Ukraine	209,815	$672	32
145	Pskov, Russia	209,426	$1,212	58
146	Lyubertsy, Russia	208,397	$727	35
147	Radom, Poland	208,091	$1,213	58
148	Debrecen, Hungary	201,704	$1,446	70
149	Biysk, Russia	198,433	$1,276	59
150	Rzeszow, Poland	197,536	$1,474	70

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 3, 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.