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	Tozeur, Tunisia	37,365	$603	29
332	Tlokweng, Botswana	35,982	$571	27
333	Heidelberg, GP, South Africa	35,000	$1,088	52
334	Azazga, Algeria	34,683	$396	19
335	Margate, South Africa	34,407	$875	42
336	Elmina, Ghana	34,403	$680	33
337	Howick, South Africa	32,453	$1,068	51
338	Redcliff, Zimbabwe	32,346	$616	29
339	Ambatolampy, Madagascar	32,291	$473	23
340	Nanyuki, Kenya	32,000	$613	29
341	Migori, Kenya	31,644	$555	26
342	Banjul, Gambia	31,356	$677	32
343	Begoro, Ghana	29,516	$675	33
344	Ain Taoujdate, Morocco	28,288	$816	38
345	Ballito, South Africa	27,718	$630	30
346	Jeffreys Bay, South Africa	27,107	$1,035	50
347	Hartebeespoort, South Africa	26,732	$959	46
348	Victoria, Seychelles	26,450	$2,052	98
349	Palapye, Botswana	26,000	$570	27
350	Louis Trichardt, South Africa	25,360	$1,094	52
351	Tipasa, Algeria	25,225	$472	22
352	Djemila, Algeria	24,145	$427	20
353	Scottburgh, South Africa	23,949	$1,096	52
354	Nyamata, Rwanda	21,509	$568	27
355	Carthage, Tunisia	21,276	$696	33
356	Wote, Kenya	19,725	$605	29
357	Stellenbosch, South Africa	19,068	$1,172	56
358	KwaMhlanga, South Africa	18,604	$1,095	52
359	Kireka, Uganda	17,947	$479	23
360	Bel Air, Mauritius	17,600	$595	29

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

Last update: November 10, 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.