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
211	Koforidua, Ghana	130,000	$853	41
212	Lugazi, Uganda	128,400	$389	19
213	Praia, Cape Verde	127,832	$1,192	57
214	Ksar El Kebir, Morocco	126,617	$762	37
215	Larache, Morocco	125,008	$751	36
216	Alberton, South Africa	121,536	$1,215	58
217	Guelma, Algeria	120,847	$522	25
218	Ain Beida, Algeria	118,662	$550	26
219	Guelmim, Morocco	118,318	$560	27
220	Limbe, Cameroon	118,210	$876	42
221	Malindi, Kenya	117,735	$518	25
222	Kabwe, Zambia	117,517	$556	27
223	Xai-Xai, Mozambique	116,343	$678	33
224	Vacoas, Mauritius	115,289	$752	36
225	Ariana, Tunisia	114,486	$678	33
226	Machakos, Kenya	114,109	$522	25
227	Bellville, South Africa	112,507	$1,101	54
228	Paarl, South Africa	112,045	$1,168	56
229	Abnub, Egypt	111,785	$408	19
230	Moroni, Comoros	111,329	$1,412	67
231	Gafsa, Tunisia	111,170	$581	28
232	Nelspruit, South Africa	110,159	$1,029	49
233	Berkane, Morocco	109,237	$718	35
234	Qalyub, Egypt	109,000	$420	20
235	Emalahleni, South Africa	108,673	$1,244	57
236	Chilanga, Zambia	107,051	$567	27
237	Hammamet, Tunisia	106,326	$770	37
238	Monastir, Tunisia	104,535	$705	34
239	Kafue, Zambia	104,174	$564	27
240	Uitenhage, South Africa	103,639	$1,143	53

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.