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	Price per month for a nomad	Living Index
331	Nyahururu, Kenya	37,650	$624	30
332	Tozeur, Tunisia	37,365	$592	29
333	Tlokweng, Botswana	35,982	$570	27
334	Heidelberg, GP, South Africa	35,000	$1,084	52
335	Azazga, Algeria	34,683	$518	25
336	Margate, South Africa	34,407	$883	42
337	Elmina, Ghana	34,403	$678	33
338	Howick, South Africa	32,453	$1,110	51
339	Redcliff, Zimbabwe	32,346	$614	29
340	Ambatolampy, Madagascar	32,291	$467	22
341	Nanyuki, Kenya	32,000	$614	29
342	Migori, Kenya	31,644	$549	26
343	Banjul, Gambia	31,356	$676	32
344	Begoro, Ghana	29,516	$681	33
345	Ain Taoujdate, Morocco	28,288	$790	38
346	Ballito, South Africa	27,718	$622	30
347	Jeffreys Bay, South Africa	27,107	$1,045	50
348	Hartebeespoort, South Africa	26,732	$946	45
349	Victoria, Seychelles	26,450	$2,045	98
350	Palapye, Botswana	26,000	$566	27
351	Louis Trichardt, South Africa	25,360	$1,078	52
352	Tipasa, Algeria	25,225	$523	25
353	Djemila, Algeria	24,145	$544	26
354	Scottburgh, South Africa	23,949	$1,105	52
355	Nyamata, Rwanda	21,509	$565	27
356	Carthage, Tunisia	21,276	$696	33
357	Wote, Kenya	19,725	$606	29
358	Stellenbosch, South Africa	19,068	$1,156	55
359	KwaMhlanga, South Africa	18,604	$1,105	52
360	Kireka, Uganda	17,947	$481	23

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

Last update: November 3, 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.