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
181	Sibiu, Romania	147,245	54
182	Pyatigorsk, Russia	146,262	49
183	Balti, Moldova	144,800	50
184	Bacau, Romania	144,307	45
185	Miskolc, Hungary	143,502	55
186	Barysaw, Belarus	143,051	38
187	Nakhodka, Russia	142,673	58
188	Pecs, Hungary	140,330	60
189	Maykop, Russia	139,084	51
190	Kolomna, Russia	138,693	56
191	Odintsovo, Russia	135,867	49
192	Ruda Slaska, Poland	135,695	69
193	Domodedovo, Russia	135,070	56
194	Targu Mures, Romania	134,290	53
195	Kovrov, Russia	134,074	57
196	Neftekamsk, Russia	131,945	48
197	Gyor, Hungary	130,191	60
198	Kislovodsk, Russia	127,919	48
199	Opole, Poland	127,561	77
200	Pinsk, Belarus	126,189	27
201	Tychy, Poland	126,184	70
202	Nefteyugansk, Russia	124,989	48
203	Serpukhov, Russia	124,897	57
204	Novomoskovsk, Ukraine	124,787	37
205	Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland	124,344	70
206	Novy Urengoy, Russia	124,112	48
207	Baia Mare, Romania	123,738	44
208	Pervouralsk, Russia	123,655	42
209	Elblag, Poland	122,899	78
210	Plock, Poland	122,815	71

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.