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
211	Berkane, Morocco	109,237	36
212	Qalyub, Egypt	109,000	23
213	Emalahleni, South Africa	108,673	53
214	Monastir, Tunisia	104,535	34
215	Uitenhage, South Africa	103,639	50
216	Taourirt, Morocco	103,398	36
217	Vereeniging, South Africa	100,000	45
218	Bani Walid, Libya	100,000	16
219	Lira, Uganda	99,059	22
220	Nyeri, Kenya	98,908	26
221	Worcester, South Africa	97,098	44
222	Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Mauritius	96,000	53
223	Vanderbijlpark, South Africa	95,840	51
224	Oued Zem, Morocco	95,267	40
225	Mbabane, Eswatini	94,874	37
226	Masindi, Uganda	94,622	22
227	Kwekwe, Zimbabwe	93,072	39
228	Sidi Slimane, Morocco	92,989	36
229	El Bayadh, Algeria	91,632	31
230	Bouira, Algeria	88,801	29
231	Ben Arous, Tunisia	88,322	33
232	Middelburg, South Africa	87,348	51
233	Saint-Pierre, Reunion	84,077	91
234	Ho, Ghana	83,715	17
235	Kasserine, Tunisia	83,534	25
236	Thika, Kenya	83,000	24
237	Quatre Bornes, Mauritius	81,773	43
238	Curepipe, Mauritius	81,600	47
239	Taroudant, Morocco	80,149	32
240	Brackenfell, South Africa	80,000	45

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.