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
61	Ambositra, Madagascar	41,078	$468	22
62	Narok, Kenya	40,000	$610	29
63	Nyahururu, Kenya	37,650	$624	30
64	Ambatolampy, Madagascar	32,291	$467	22
65	Nanyuki, Kenya	32,000	$614	29
66	Migori, Kenya	31,644	$549	26
67	Victoria, Seychelles	26,450	$2,045	98
68	Nyamata, Rwanda	21,509	$565	27
69	Wote, Kenya	19,725	$606	29
70	Kireka, Uganda	17,947	$481	23
71	Bel Air, Mauritius	17,600	$596	29
72	Saint Pierre, Mauritius	16,000	$660	32
73	Busembatya, Uganda	15,889	$391	19
74	Mahebourg, Mauritius	15,500	$954	46
75	Bambous, Mauritius	15,300	$544	26
76	Trou aux Biches, Mauritius	14,706	$1,238	59
77	Naivasha, Kenya	14,563	$546	26
78	Baie du Tombeau, Mauritius	12,011	$638	31
79	Rose Belle, Mauritius	12,000	$613	29
80	Grand Bay, Mauritius	11,900	$1,174	56
81	Bweyogerere, Uganda	11,473	$393	19
82	Riviere Du Rempart, Mauritius	10,800	$719	35
83	Lalmatie, Mauritius	10,641	$707	34
84	Surinam, Mauritius	10,500	$627	30
85	Grand Bois, Mauritius	7,804	$627	30
86	Long Mountain, Mauritius	7,775	$619	29
87	Grand-Gaube, Mauritius	7,706	$629	30
88	Brisee Verdiere, Mauritius	7,696	$627	30
89	Midlands, Mauritius	4,546	$626	30
90	Tamarin, Mauritius	4,371	$1,046	50

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.