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
1	Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo	17,032,322	$1,725	83
2	Luanda, Angola	2,600,000	$995	48
3	Douala, Cameroon	2,000,000	$1,330	64
4	Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo	1,932,610	$1,918	92
5	Yaounde, Cameroon	1,817,524	$704	34
6	Bamenda, Cameroon	1,735,000	$674	32
7	Buea, Cameroon	1,325,000	$744	36
8	Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo	1,139,064	$1,221	59
9	N'Djamena, Chad	1,092,066	$1,086	52
10	Libreville, Gabon	850,000	$1,499	72
11	Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo	816,811	$681	33
12	Bafoussam, Cameroon	373,268	$959	46
13	Limbe, Cameroon	118,210	$876	42
14	Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe	53,300	$1,202	57

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.