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	$921	44
182	Miskolc, Hungary	143,502	$1,222	58
183	Barysaw, Belarus	143,051	$816	39
184	Nakhodka, Russia	142,673	$1,255	60
185	Rybnik, Poland	142,510	$1,372	65
186	Pecs, Hungary	140,330	$1,399	67
187	Maykop, Russia	139,084	$993	48
188	Kolomna, Russia	138,693	$1,246	60
189	Odintsovo, Russia	135,867	$1,012	49
190	Ruda Slaska, Poland	135,695	$1,467	70
191	Domodedovo, Russia	135,070	$1,025	49
192	Targu Mures, Romania	134,290	$1,030	49
193	Kovrov, Russia	134,074	$1,289	62
194	Neftekamsk, Russia	131,945	$1,148	55
195	Gyor, Hungary	130,191	$1,293	62
196	Kislovodsk, Russia	127,919	$1,125	54
197	Opole, Poland	127,561	$1,489	72
198	Pinsk, Belarus	126,189	$612	29
199	Tychy, Poland	126,184	$1,493	71
200	Nefteyugansk, Russia	124,989	$1,117	54
201	Serpukhov, Russia	124,897	$1,216	58
202	Novomoskovsk, Ukraine	124,787	$717	34
203	Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland	124,344	$1,446	69
204	Novy Urengoy, Russia	124,112	$1,078	53
205	Baia Mare, Romania	123,738	$976	47
206	Pervouralsk, Russia	123,655	$973	47
207	Elblag, Poland	122,899	$1,475	71
208	Plock, Poland	122,815	$1,415	67
209	Novomoskovsk, Russia	121,674	$1,123	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 10, 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.