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	Mohammedia, Morocco	194,358	$803	39
62	Beni Mellal, Morocco	192,676	$620	30
63	Sohag, Egypt	189,695	$405	20
64	Shibin Al Kawm, Egypt	184,097	$429	21
65	Chlef, Algeria	178,616	$404	19
66	Bejaia, Algeria	177,988	$453	22
67	Ait Melloul, Morocco	171,847	$654	32
68	Berrechid, Morocco	168,687	$628	30
69	Bordj Bou Arreridj, Algeria	168,346	$450	22
70	Banha, Egypt	167,029	$398	19
71	Bechar, Algeria	165,627	$429	20
72	Skikda, Algeria	163,618	$608	29
73	Blida, Algeria	163,586	$463	22
74	Nador, Morocco	161,726	$611	29
75	Hurghada, Egypt	160,901	$464	22
76	M'Sila, Algeria	156,647	$362	17
77	Souk Ahras, Algeria	155,259	$520	25
78	Al-hawamidiyah, Egypt	155,055	$426	21
79	Taza, Morocco	148,456	$561	27
80	Mostaganem, Algeria	145,696	$431	21
81	Laghouat, Algeria	144,747	$498	24
82	Settat, Morocco	142,250	$665	32
83	Tlemcen, Algeria	140,158	$399	19
84	Mersa Matruh, Egypt	140,000	$437	21
85	Kairouan, Tunisia	139,070	$633	30
86	Medea, Algeria	138,355	$430	20
87	Dikirnis, Egypt	137,542	$414	20
88	Bizerte, Tunisia	136,917	$611	29
89	Tizi Ouzou, Algeria	135,088	$392	19
90	Jijel, Algeria	134,839	$522	25

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.