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
241	Ramnicu Valcea, Romania	98,776	53
242	Sarapul, Russia	98,569	46
243	Ukhta, Russia	98,293	48
244	Legnica, Poland	97,958	65
245	Mezhdurechensk, Russia	97,895	49
246	Serov, Russia	97,366	48
247	Focsani, Romania	97,186	48
248	Bender, Moldova	97,027	35
249	Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic	96,150	69
250	Szekesfehervar, Hungary	96,024	51
251	Sliven, Bulgaria	95,806	38
252	Maladzyechna, Belarus	95,011	31
253	Gatchina, Russia	94,377	54
254	Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic	94,100	89
255	Glazov, Russia	93,628	50
256	Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania	92,617	54
257	Suceava, Romania	92,121	49
258	Presov, Slovakia	91,498	67
259	Jastrzebie-zdroj, Poland	91,235	75
260	Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic	90,457	78
261	Dobrich, Bulgaria	89,627	43
262	Magadan, Russia	89,193	54
263	Slupsk, Poland	89,180	69
264	Solikamsk, Russia	88,184	49
265	Pardubice, Czech Republic	87,625	76
266	Velikiye Luki, Russia	86,711	49
267	Uman, Ukraine	86,614	31
268	Mukachevo, Ukraine	85,963	36
269	Shumen, Bulgaria	85,504	44
270	Piatra Neamt, Romania	85,055	47

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.