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	48
212	Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Russia	120,184	48
213	Nikopol', Ukraine	119,939	35
214	Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland	117,516	68
215	Obninsk, Russia	116,179	57
216	Buzau, Romania	115,494	55
217	Nyiregyhaza, Hungary	115,359	45
218	Orsha, Belarus	115,052	32
219	Uzhhorod, Ukraine	114,867	39
220	Pleven, Bulgaria	111,567	41
221	Chorzow, Poland	110,761	71
222	Kecskemet, Hungary	109,450	52
223	Walbrzych, Poland	108,944	61
224	Zhukovsky, Russia	107,558	51
225	Botosani, Romania	106,847	52
226	Tarnow, Poland	106,748	61
227	Sergiyev Posad, Russia	106,007	59
228	Murom, Russia	105,572	58
229	Koszalin, Poland	105,143	66
230	Novoshakhtinsk, Russia	105,038	48
231	Artem, Russia	104,926	59
232	Achinsk, Russia	104,850	45
233	Kalisz, Poland	103,997	60
234	Liberec, Czech Republic	103,415	76
235	Arzamas, Russia	103,396	48
236	Elista, Russia	103,219	49
237	Satu Mare, Romania	102,411	48
238	Navapolatsk, Belarus	101,596	26
239	Brovary, Ukraine	100,623	39
240	Olomouc, Czech Republic	99,604	76

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.