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
31	Kiambu, Kenya	147,870	22
32	Port Louis, Mauritius	147,688	45
33	Malindi, Kenya	117,735	22
34	Xai-Xai, Mozambique	116,343	31
35	Machakos, Kenya	114,109	24
36	Moroni, Comoros	111,329	67
37	Lira, Uganda	99,059	20
38	Nyeri, Kenya	98,908	23
39	Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Mauritius	96,000	44
40	Masindi, Uganda	94,622	20
41	Saint-Pierre, Reunion	84,077	91
42	Thika, Kenya	83,000	23
43	Quatre Bornes, Mauritius	81,773	37
44	Curepipe, Mauritius	81,600	46
45	Mahe, Seychelles	78,539	91
46	Jinja, Uganda	72,931	20
47	Entebbe, Uganda	69,958	26
48	Bagamoyo, Tanzania	55,000	18
49	Fort Portal, Uganda	54,275	19
50	Isiolo, Kenya	45,989	24
51	Manakara, Madagascar	44,237	19
52	Embu, Kenya	41,092	23
53	Ambositra, Madagascar	41,078	23
54	Narok, Kenya	40,000	28
55	Ambatolampy, Madagascar	32,291	23
56	Nanyuki, Kenya	32,000	29
57	Migori, Kenya	31,644	24
58	Victoria, Seychelles	26,450	93
59	Bel Air, Mauritius	17,600	48
60	Saint Pierre, Mauritius	16,000	49

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.