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
211	Novomoskovsk, Russia	121,674	45
212	Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Russia	120,184	40
213	Nikopol', Ukraine	119,939	32
214	Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland	117,516	65
215	Obninsk, Russia	116,179	26
216	Buzau, Romania	115,494	47
217	Nyiregyhaza, Hungary	115,359	49
218	Orsha, Belarus	115,052	30
219	Uzhhorod, Ukraine	114,867	35
220	Pleven, Bulgaria	111,567	42
221	Chorzow, Poland	110,761	69
222	Kecskemet, Hungary	109,450	56
223	Walbrzych, Poland	108,944	58
224	Zhukovsky, Russia	107,558	45
225	Botosani, Romania	106,847	49
226	Tarnow, Poland	106,748	57
227	Sergiyev Posad, Russia	106,007	41
228	Murom, Russia	105,572	56
229	Koszalin, Poland	105,143	63
230	Novoshakhtinsk, Russia	105,038	45
231	Artem, Russia	104,926	53
232	Achinsk, Russia	104,850	50
233	Kalisz, Poland	103,997	54
234	Liberec, Czech Republic	103,415	73
235	Arzamas, Russia	103,396	45
236	Elista, Russia	103,219	38
237	Satu Mare, Romania	102,411	45
238	Navapolatsk, Belarus	101,596	29
239	Brovary, Ukraine	100,623	32
240	Olomouc, Czech Republic	99,604	76

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

Last update: August 25, 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.