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
241	Sheikh Zayed, Egypt	80,000	24
242	Mahdia, Tunisia	79,545	29
243	Mahe, Seychelles	78,539	91
244	Essaouira, Morocco	77,966	41
245	Kadoma, Zimbabwe	77,749	31
246	Sidi Kacem, Morocco	75,672	37
247	Upington, South Africa	74,834	51
248	El Kef, Tunisia	73,710	27
249	Nabeul, Tunisia	73,128	32
250	Jinja, Uganda	72,931	20
251	Yafran, Libya	72,662	16
252	Masvingo, Zimbabwe	72,527	31
253	Ouarzazate, Morocco	71,067	29
254	Entebbe, Uganda	69,958	29
255	Grahamstown, South Africa	67,264	50
256	Menzel Temime, Tunisia	65,645	31
257	Ain Defla, Algeria	65,453	29
258	Martil, Morocco	64,355	39
259	Welkom, South Africa	64,130	49
260	Oudtshoorn, South Africa	61,507	50
261	Edenvale, South Africa	60,000	63
262	Mossel Bay, South Africa	60,000	50
263	Lakhdaria, Algeria	59,746	30
264	Manouba, Tunisia	58,792	32
265	Kelibia, Tunisia	58,491	30
266	Richards Bay, South Africa	57,387	51
267	Beja, Tunisia	57,000	32
268	Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe	56,794	33
269	Msaken, Tunisia	56,000	34
270	Tataouine, Tunisia	56,000	23

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.