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	$683	33
62	Cotonou, Benin	780,000	$904	43
63	Abuja, Nigeria	776,298	$1,085	52
64	Kaduna, Nigeria	760,084	$314	15
65	Pretoria, South Africa	741,651	$1,311	62
66	Oyo, Nigeria	736,100	$625	30
67	Tunis, Tunisia	728,453	$858	41
68	Zanzibar, Tanzania	709,809	$582	28
69	Al Rehab, Egypt	699,541	$550	26
70	Matola, Mozambique	675,422	$1,000	48
71	Nasr City, Egypt	668,413	$473	23
72	Tanta, Egypt	658,798	$330	16
73	Bulawayo, Zimbabwe	653,337	$756	36
74	Abomey-Calavi, Benin	650,000	$713	34
75	Benghazi, Libya	631,555	$420	20
76	Polokwane, South Africa	628,999	$967	46
77	Mansoura, Egypt	621,953	$392	19
78	Pietermaritzburg, South Africa	618,536	$966	46
79	Oran, Algeria	609,940	$612	29
80	Misrata, Libya	600,000	$484	23
81	Asmara, Eritrea	579,000	$1,375	66
82	Rabat, Morocco	573,895	$930	44
83	Asyut, Egypt	562,743	$326	16
84	Rustenburg, South Africa	549,575	$822	39
85	Mbeya, Tanzania	541,603	$423	20
86	Takoradi, Ghana	539,548	$559	27
87	Port Said, Egypt	538,378	$420	20
88	Meknes, Morocco	520,428	$741	35
89	10th of Ramadan, Egypt	511,987	$423	20
90	Kenitra, Morocco	507,736	$636	30

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.