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	Narok, Kenya	40,000	$597	29
62	Nyahururu, Kenya	37,650	$622	30
63	Ambatolampy, Madagascar	32,291	$473	23
64	Nanyuki, Kenya	32,000	$613	29
65	Migori, Kenya	31,644	$555	26
66	Victoria, Seychelles	26,450	$2,052	98
67	Nyamata, Rwanda	21,509	$568	27
68	Wote, Kenya	19,725	$605	29
69	Kireka, Uganda	17,947	$479	23
70	Bel Air, Mauritius	17,600	$595	29
71	Saint Pierre, Mauritius	16,000	$662	32
72	Busembatya, Uganda	15,889	$393	19
73	Mahebourg, Mauritius	15,500	$951	46
74	Bambous, Mauritius	15,300	$550	26
75	Trou aux Biches, Mauritius	14,706	$1,233	59
76	Naivasha, Kenya	14,563	$549	26
77	Baie du Tombeau, Mauritius	12,011	$641	31
78	Rose Belle, Mauritius	12,000	$614	29
79	Grand Bay, Mauritius	11,900	$1,181	57
80	Bweyogerere, Uganda	11,473	$392	19
81	Riviere Du Rempart, Mauritius	10,800	$720	35
82	Lalmatie, Mauritius	10,641	$680	33
83	Surinam, Mauritius	10,500	$623	30
84	Grand Bois, Mauritius	7,804	$622	30
85	Long Mountain, Mauritius	7,775	$623	30
86	Grand-Gaube, Mauritius	7,706	$626	30
87	Brisee Verdiere, Mauritius	7,696	$623	30
88	Midlands, Mauritius	4,546	$627	30
89	Tamarin, Mauritius	4,371	$1,057	50
90	Roche Terre, Mauritius	3,199	$628	30

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 10, 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.