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	Batna, Algeria	290,645	25
122	Djelfa, Algeria	289,226	23
123	Setif, Algeria	288,461	21
124	Zagazig, Egypt	285,097	17
125	Ilesha, Nigeria	277,904	22
126	Ondo, Nigeria	275,000	17
127	Krugersdorp, South Africa	275,000	56
128	East London, South Africa	267,007	48
129	Damietta, Egypt	267,000	15
130	Boksburg, South Africa	260,000	56
131	Annaba, Algeria	257,359	29
132	Minya, Egypt	247,000	18
133	Antsirabe, Madagascar	246,354	22
134	Aswan, Egypt	241,261	21
135	Zliten, Libya	240,000	16
136	El Jadida, Morocco	237,464	30
137	Centurion, South Africa	236,580	64
138	Qena, Egypt	235,362	22
139	Gaborone, Botswana	231,626	39
140	Adama, Ethiopia	228,623	49
141	Damanhur, Egypt	227,943	15
142	Maseru, Lesotho	227,880	32
143	Kimberley, South Africa	225,160	53
144	Sandton, South Africa	222,415	58
145	Sousse, Tunisia	221,530	37
146	Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria	212,935	24
147	Biskra, Algeria	205,608	25
148	Tiaret, Algeria	201,263	20
149	Tebessa, Algeria	196,537	25
150	Khouribga, Morocco	195,931	31

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

Last update: August 25, 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.