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	Kabwe, Zambia	117,517	28
212	Xai-Xai, Mozambique	116,343	31
213	Machakos, Kenya	114,109	24
214	Bellville, South Africa	112,507	54
215	Paarl, South Africa	112,045	84
216	Moroni, Comoros	111,329	67
217	Gafsa, Tunisia	111,170	27
218	Nelspruit, South Africa	110,159	48
219	Berkane, Morocco	109,237	35
220	Qalyub, Egypt	109,000	21
221	Emalahleni, South Africa	108,673	57
222	Chilanga, Zambia	107,051	28
223	Monastir, Tunisia	104,535	33
224	Uitenhage, South Africa	103,639	53
225	Taourirt, Morocco	103,398	34
226	Vereeniging, South Africa	100,000	45
227	Bani Walid, Libya	100,000	16
228	Lira, Uganda	99,059	20
229	Nyeri, Kenya	98,908	23
230	Worcester, South Africa	97,098	33
231	Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Mauritius	96,000	44
232	Vanderbijlpark, South Africa	95,840	49
233	Oued Zem, Morocco	95,267	36
234	Mbabane, Eswatini	94,874	36
235	Masindi, Uganda	94,622	20
236	Kwekwe, Zimbabwe	93,072	34
237	Sidi Slimane, Morocco	92,989	34
238	El Bayadh, Algeria	91,632	25
239	Bouira, Algeria	88,801	23
240	Ben Arous, Tunisia	88,322	32

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.