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	Johannesburg, South Africa	4,434,827	$1,406	67
2	Cape Town, South Africa	3,740,026	$1,527	74
3	Durban, South Africa	3,442,361	$1,120	54
4	Lusaka, Zambia	1,742,979	$860	41
5	Harare, Zimbabwe	1,606,000	$1,076	52
6	Soweto, South Africa	1,270,000	$1,115	52
7	Port Elizabeth, South Africa	1,050,000	$1,182	57
8	Pretoria, South Africa	741,651	$1,278	61
9	Bulawayo, Zimbabwe	653,337	$753	36
10	Polokwane, South Africa	628,999	$961	46
11	Pietermaritzburg, South Africa	618,536	$1,033	50
12	Rustenburg, South Africa	549,575	$810	39
13	Tembisa, South Africa	463,109	$1,097	52
14	Ndola, Zambia	455,194	$700	34
15	Bloemfontein, South Africa	370,000	$1,061	51
16	Newcastle, South Africa	363,236	$1,020	50
17	Randburg, South Africa	335,000	$1,057	51
18	Roodepoort, South Africa	325,000	$1,173	56
19	Windhoek, Namibia	322,500	$1,172	56
20	Brakpan, South Africa	305,692	$1,103	53
21	Krugersdorp, South Africa	275,000	$1,226	59
22	East London, South Africa	267,007	$978	47
23	Boksburg, South Africa	260,000	$1,220	58
24	Centurion, South Africa	236,580	$1,369	66
25	Gaborone, Botswana	231,626	$838	40
26	Maseru, Lesotho	227,880	$667	32
27	Kimberley, South Africa	225,160	$1,124	54
28	Sandton, South Africa	222,415	$1,237	59
29	George, South Africa	188,580	$1,132	54
30	Mutare, Zimbabwe	188,243	$780	38

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.