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
121	Batna, Algeria	290,645	$510	25
122	Djelfa, Algeria	289,226	$503	24
123	Setif, Algeria	288,461	$410	20
124	Zagazig, Egypt	285,097	$350	17
125	Ilesha, Nigeria	277,904	$479	23
126	Ondo, Nigeria	275,000	$372	18
127	Krugersdorp, South Africa	275,000	$1,226	59
128	East London, South Africa	267,007	$978	47
129	Damietta, Egypt	267,000	$321	15
130	Boksburg, South Africa	260,000	$1,220	58
131	Annaba, Algeria	257,359	$601	29
132	Minya, Egypt	247,000	$353	17
133	Antsirabe, Madagascar	246,354	$449	22
134	Aswan, Egypt	241,261	$408	19
135	El Jadida, Morocco	237,464	$609	29
136	Centurion, South Africa	236,580	$1,369	66
137	Qena, Egypt	235,362	$435	21
138	Gaborone, Botswana	231,626	$838	40
139	Adama, Ethiopia	228,623	$1,024	49
140	Damanhur, Egypt	227,943	$297	14
141	Maseru, Lesotho	227,880	$667	32
142	Kimberley, South Africa	225,160	$1,124	54
143	Sandton, South Africa	222,415	$1,237	59
144	Sousse, Tunisia	221,530	$783	37
145	Sagamu, Nigeria	214,558	$484	23
146	Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria	212,935	$534	25
147	Biskra, Algeria	205,608	$534	26
148	Tiaret, Algeria	201,263	$546	26
149	Al `arish, Egypt	199,243	$427	20
150	Tebessa, Algeria	196,537	$524	25

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.