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	Middelburg, South Africa	87,348	53
242	Saint-Pierre, Reunion	84,077	91
243	Ho, Ghana	83,715	32
244	Kasserine, Tunisia	83,534	28
245	Thika, Kenya	83,000	23
246	Quatre Bornes, Mauritius	81,773	37
247	Curepipe, Mauritius	81,600	46
248	Taroudant, Morocco	80,149	34
249	Brackenfell, South Africa	80,000	49
250	Sheikh Zayed, Egypt	80,000	22
251	Mahdia, Tunisia	79,545	26
252	Mahe, Seychelles	78,539	91
253	Essaouira, Morocco	77,966	35
254	Kadoma, Zimbabwe	77,749	28
255	Sidi Kacem, Morocco	75,672	31
256	Upington, South Africa	74,834	53
257	El Kef, Tunisia	73,710	27
258	Nabeul, Tunisia	73,128	31
259	Jinja, Uganda	72,931	20
260	Yafran, Libya	72,662	16
261	Masvingo, Zimbabwe	72,527	28
262	Ouarzazate, Morocco	71,067	34
263	Entebbe, Uganda	69,958	26
264	Grahamstown, South Africa	67,264	53
265	Menzel Temime, Tunisia	65,645	31
266	Ain Defla, Algeria	65,453	24
267	Martil, Morocco	64,355	32
268	Welkom, South Africa	64,130	51
269	Oudtshoorn, South Africa	61,507	53
270	Mossel Bay, South Africa	60,000	52

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.