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
181	Bacau, Romania	144,307	$924	44
182	Miskolc, Hungary	143,502	$1,201	57
183	Barysaw, Belarus	143,051	$809	39
184	Nakhodka, Russia	142,673	$1,279	61
185	Rybnik, Poland	142,510	$1,389	67
186	Pecs, Hungary	140,330	$1,374	66
187	Maykop, Russia	139,084	$1,015	48
188	Kolomna, Russia	138,693	$1,252	61
189	Odintsovo, Russia	135,867	$1,055	49
190	Ruda Slaska, Poland	135,695	$1,422	68
191	Domodedovo, Russia	135,070	$1,038	49
192	Targu Mures, Romania	134,290	$1,038	49
193	Kovrov, Russia	134,074	$1,315	62
194	Neftekamsk, Russia	131,945	$1,129	55
195	Gyor, Hungary	130,191	$1,298	62
196	Kislovodsk, Russia	127,919	$1,089	54
197	Opole, Poland	127,561	$1,481	71
198	Pinsk, Belarus	126,189	$617	30
199	Tychy, Poland	126,184	$1,470	70
200	Nefteyugansk, Russia	124,989	$1,090	54
201	Serpukhov, Russia	124,897	$1,216	59
202	Novomoskovsk, Ukraine	124,787	$703	34
203	Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland	124,344	$1,430	68
204	Novy Urengoy, Russia	124,112	$1,097	54
205	Baia Mare, Romania	123,738	$963	47
206	Pervouralsk, Russia	123,655	$936	46
207	Elblag, Poland	122,899	$1,457	70
208	Plock, Poland	122,815	$1,405	67
209	Novomoskovsk, Russia	121,674	$1,120	54
210	Wloclawek, Poland	120,339	$1,197	57

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.