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
31	Klerksdorp, South Africa	186,515	$1,085	52
32	Alexandra, South Africa	179,624	$1,054	52
33	Benoni, South Africa	158,777	$1,073	51
34	Westonaria, South Africa	156,831	$1,035	52
35	Vryheid, South Africa	150,012	$1,136	52
36	Gweru, Zimbabwe	141,260	$602	29
37	Bhisho, South Africa	137,287	$1,142	55
38	Alberton, South Africa	121,536	$1,215	58
39	Kabwe, Zambia	117,517	$556	27
40	Bellville, South Africa	112,507	$1,101	54
41	Paarl, South Africa	112,045	$1,168	56
42	Nelspruit, South Africa	110,159	$1,029	49
43	Emalahleni, South Africa	108,673	$1,244	57
44	Chilanga, Zambia	107,051	$567	27
45	Kafue, Zambia	104,174	$564	27
46	Uitenhage, South Africa	103,639	$1,143	53
47	Vereeniging, South Africa	100,000	$943	45
48	Worcester, South Africa	97,098	$682	33
49	Vanderbijlpark, South Africa	95,840	$1,026	49
50	Mbabane, Eswatini	94,874	$756	36
51	Kwekwe, Zimbabwe	93,072	$754	36
52	Midrand, South Africa	87,387	$1,100	52
53	Middelburg, South Africa	87,348	$1,099	52
54	Brackenfell, South Africa	80,000	$1,026	49
55	Kadoma, Zimbabwe	77,749	$617	29
56	Upington, South Africa	74,834	$1,094	53
57	Masvingo, Zimbabwe	72,527	$617	29
58	Grahamstown, South Africa	67,264	$1,120	54
59	Welkom, South Africa	64,130	$1,051	50
60	Oudtshoorn, South Africa	61,507	$1,151	52

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.