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
61	Bejaia, Algeria	177,988	29
62	Ait Melloul, Morocco	171,847	34
63	Berrechid, Morocco	168,687	35
64	Bordj Bou Arreridj, Algeria	168,346	27
65	Banha, Egypt	167,029	21
66	Bechar, Algeria	165,627	30
67	Skikda, Algeria	163,618	30
68	Blida, Algeria	163,586	30
69	Nador, Morocco	161,726	35
70	Hurghada, Egypt	160,901	27
71	M'Sila, Algeria	156,647	27
72	Souk Ahras, Algeria	155,259	27
73	Taza, Morocco	148,456	30
74	Mostaganem, Algeria	145,696	30
75	Laghouat, Algeria	144,747	29
76	Settat, Morocco	142,250	35
77	Tlemcen, Algeria	140,158	29
78	Mersa Matruh, Egypt	140,000	23
79	Kairouan, Tunisia	139,070	28
80	Medea, Algeria	138,355	26
81	Dikirnis, Egypt	137,542	23
82	Bizerte, Tunisia	136,917	25
83	Tizi Ouzou, Algeria	135,088	29
84	Jijel, Algeria	134,839	29
85	El Oued, Algeria	134,699	30
86	Ouargla, Algeria	133,024	30
87	Khemisset, Morocco	131,542	36
88	Gabes, Tunisia	130,984	28
89	Relizane, Algeria	130,094	31
90	Ksar El Kebir, Morocco	126,617	40

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

Last update: February 24, 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.