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
61	Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo	816,811	$681	33
62	Cotonou, Benin	780,000	$898	43
63	Abuja, Nigeria	776,298	$1,087	52
64	Kaduna, Nigeria	760,084	$310	15
65	Pretoria, South Africa	741,651	$1,278	61
66	Oyo, Nigeria	736,100	$623	30
67	Tunis, Tunisia	728,453	$861	41
68	Zanzibar, Tanzania	709,809	$582	28
69	Al Rehab, Egypt	699,541	$538	26
70	Matola, Mozambique	675,422	$992	48
71	Nasr City, Egypt	668,413	$462	22
72	Tanta, Egypt	658,798	$323	15
73	Bulawayo, Zimbabwe	653,337	$753	36
74	Abomey-Calavi, Benin	650,000	$709	34
75	Benghazi, Libya	631,555	$421	20
76	Polokwane, South Africa	628,999	$961	46
77	Mansoura, Egypt	621,953	$385	18
78	Pietermaritzburg, South Africa	618,536	$1,033	50
79	Oran, Algeria	609,940	$601	29
80	Misrata, Libya	600,000	$440	21
81	Asmara, Eritrea	579,000	$1,387	66
82	Rabat, Morocco	573,895	$912	44
83	Asyut, Egypt	562,743	$318	15
84	Rustenburg, South Africa	549,575	$810	39
85	Mbeya, Tanzania	541,603	$427	20
86	Takoradi, Ghana	539,548	$577	28
87	Port Said, Egypt	538,378	$413	20
88	Meknes, Morocco	520,428	$730	35
89	10th of Ramadan, Egypt	511,987	$415	20
90	Kenitra, Morocco	507,736	$624	30

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.