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
121	Ilesha, Nigeria	277,904	23
122	Ondo, Nigeria	275,000	22
123	Krugersdorp, South Africa	275,000	53
124	East London, South Africa	267,007	53
125	Damietta, Egypt	267,000	16
126	Boksburg, South Africa	260,000	52
127	Annaba, Algeria	257,359	33
128	Minya, Egypt	247,000	18
129	Aswan, Egypt	241,261	23
130	Zliten, Libya	240,000	16
131	El Jadida, Morocco	237,464	33
132	Centurion, South Africa	236,580	57
133	Qena, Egypt	235,362	25
134	Gaborone, Botswana	231,626	42
135	Adama, Ethiopia	228,623	55
136	Damanhur, Egypt	227,943	18
137	Maseru, Lesotho	227,880	34
138	Kimberley, South Africa	225,160	53
139	Sandton, South Africa	222,415	55
140	Sousse, Tunisia	221,530	36
141	Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria	212,935	30
142	Biskra, Algeria	205,608	28
143	Tiaret, Algeria	201,263	28
144	Tebessa, Algeria	196,537	30
145	Khouribga, Morocco	195,931	33
146	Mbarara, Uganda	195,013	27
147	Mohammedia, Morocco	194,358	40
148	Eldoret, Kenya	193,830	27
149	Beni Mellal, Morocco	192,676	30
150	Sohag, Egypt	189,695	23

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.