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 Africa Northern Africa Western Africa Middle Africa Eastern Africa Southern Africa

Rank	City	Population	Living Index
301	Tipasa, Algeria	25,225	30
302	Djemila, Algeria	24,145	31
303	Al-'aziziyah, Libya	23,399	16
304	Carthage, Tunisia	21,276	32
305	Tsumeb, Namibia	20,000	38
306	Stellenbosch, South Africa	19,068	53
307	KwaMhlanga, South Africa	18,604	50
308	Bel Air, Mauritius	17,600	52
309	Zaltan, Libya	17,000	16
310	Shurugwi, Zimbabwe	16,866	31
311	Flacq, Mauritius	16,000	51
312	Saint Pierre, Mauritius	16,000	53
313	Mahebourg, Mauritius	15,500	47
314	Bambous, Mauritius	15,300	49
315	El Gouna, Egypt	15,000	23
316	Ifrane, Morocco	14,659	39
317	Naivasha, Kenya	14,563	29
318	Amersfoort, South Africa	12,335	50
319	Baie du Tombeau, Mauritius	12,011	51
320	Dahab, Egypt	12,000	23
321	Rose Belle, Mauritius	12,000	53
322	Grand Bay, Mauritius	11,900	58
323	Riviere Du Rempart, Mauritius	10,800	48
324	Surinam, Mauritius	10,500	53
325	Burgersfort, South Africa	10,000	49
326	Ladismith, WC, South Africa	7,000	49
327	Abalessa, Algeria	6,000	30
328	Taghazout, Morocco	5,260	37
329	Petite Riviere, Mauritius	2,500	53
330	Albion, Mauritius	2,000	52

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.