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
91	Larache, Morocco	125,008	40
92	Guelma, Algeria	120,847	31
93	Tarhuna, Libya	120,000	19
94	Ain Beida, Algeria	118,662	31
95	Guelmim, Morocco	118,318	31
96	Gafsa, Tunisia	111,170	29
97	Berkane, Morocco	109,237	36
98	Qalyub, Egypt	109,000	23
99	Monastir, Tunisia	104,535	34
100	Taourirt, Morocco	103,398	36
101	Bani Walid, Libya	100,000	16
102	Oued Zem, Morocco	95,267	40
103	Sidi Slimane, Morocco	92,989	36
104	El Bayadh, Algeria	91,632	31
105	Bouira, Algeria	88,801	29
106	Ben Arous, Tunisia	88,322	33
107	Kasserine, Tunisia	83,534	25
108	Taroudant, Morocco	80,149	32
109	Sheikh Zayed, Egypt	80,000	24
110	Mahdia, Tunisia	79,545	29
111	Essaouira, Morocco	77,966	41
112	Sidi Kacem, Morocco	75,672	37
113	El Kef, Tunisia	73,710	27
114	Nabeul, Tunisia	73,128	32
115	Yafran, Libya	72,662	16
116	Ouarzazate, Morocco	71,067	29
117	Menzel Temime, Tunisia	65,645	31
118	Ain Defla, Algeria	65,453	29
119	Martil, Morocco	64,355	39
120	Lakhdaria, Algeria	59,746	30

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.