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
181	Settat, Morocco	142,250	35
182	Gweru, Zimbabwe	141,260	31
183	Tlemcen, Algeria	140,158	29
184	Mersa Matruh, Egypt	140,000	23
185	Kairouan, Tunisia	139,070	28
186	Medea, Algeria	138,355	26
187	Dikirnis, Egypt	137,542	23
188	Bizerte, Tunisia	136,917	25
189	Tizi Ouzou, Algeria	135,088	29
190	Jijel, Algeria	134,839	29
191	El Oued, Algeria	134,699	30
192	Ouargla, Algeria	133,024	30
193	Khemisset, Morocco	131,542	36
194	Gabes, Tunisia	130,984	28
195	Relizane, Algeria	130,094	31
196	Koforidua, Ghana	130,000	27
197	Praia, Cape Verde	127,832	62
198	Ksar El Kebir, Morocco	126,617	40
199	Larache, Morocco	125,008	40
200	Guelma, Algeria	120,847	31
201	Tarhuna, Libya	120,000	19
202	Ain Beida, Algeria	118,662	31
203	Guelmim, Morocco	118,318	31
204	Xai-Xai, Mozambique	116,343	35
205	Machakos, Kenya	114,109	23
206	Bellville, South Africa	112,507	45
207	Paarl, South Africa	112,045	49
208	Moroni, Comoros	111,329	75
209	Gafsa, Tunisia	111,170	29
210	Nelspruit, South Africa	110,159	50

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.