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
151	Mutare, Zimbabwe	188,243	40
152	Klerksdorp, South Africa	186,515	48
153	Shibin Al Kawm, Egypt	184,097	23
154	Alexandra, South Africa	179,624	50
155	Chlef, Algeria	178,616	24
156	Bejaia, Algeria	177,988	29
157	Saint-Louis, Senegal	176,000	40
158	Ait Melloul, Morocco	171,847	34
159	Berrechid, Morocco	168,687	35
160	Bordj Bou Arreridj, Algeria	168,346	27
161	Banha, Egypt	167,029	21
162	Bechar, Algeria	165,627	30
163	Skikda, Algeria	163,618	30
164	Blida, Algeria	163,586	30
165	Nador, Morocco	161,726	35
166	Hurghada, Egypt	160,901	27
167	Hawassa, Ethiopia	160,000	41
168	Tema, Ghana	160,000	31
169	Benoni, South Africa	158,777	55
170	M'Sila, Algeria	156,647	27
171	Adzope, Ivory Coast	156,488	40
172	Souk Ahras, Algeria	155,259	27
173	Cape Coast, Ghana	155,000	40
174	Saint-Denis, Reunion	154,765	84
175	Kericho, Kenya	150,000	23
176	Taza, Morocco	148,456	30
177	Kiambu, Kenya	147,870	24
178	Port Louis, Mauritius	147,688	54
179	Mostaganem, Algeria	145,696	30
180	Laghouat, Algeria	144,747	29

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.