Does the Level of Living Conditions of the Population Depend on the Place of Residence? – Rural and Urban Perspective of European Union Countries

Purpose: The main objective of the article is to assess the impact of place of residence (city vs. village) on the level of living conditions of the population in the countries of the European Union and to verify the research hypothesis that states, "In EU countries, the level of living conditions of the population in urban areas is significantly higher than in rural areas." Design/Methodology/Approach: The subjects of the research were EU member states. The study focused on analysing living conditions and their variation based on the population's place of residence — rural and urban areas. Data from 2013 and 2023, sourced from Eurostat, were analysed. Descriptive statistics methods and the TOPSIS method were used to construct a composite measure of living conditions for populations living in urban and rural areas in EU countries. Findings: The research indicated that the level of living conditions in rural areas is higher than in urban areas. Urban areas in the EU face issues such as overcrowding, as well as adverse environmental conditions that directly affect living standards — such as noisy surroundings and environmental problems. Practical Implications: The findings have cognitive significance and practical applications for creating living conditions for populations in urban and rural areas within EU countries. Originality/value: The conducted research fills a research gap regarding the lack of multifaceted analysis of differences in living conditions between urban and rural populations in EU countries. Previous studies encompassed the perspective of the entire EU but did not evaluate the internal variation in living conditions between populations residing in urban and rural areas.