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
31	Benoni, South Africa	158,777	55
32	Gweru, Zimbabwe	141,260	31
33	Bellville, South Africa	112,507	45
34	Paarl, South Africa	112,045	49
35	Nelspruit, South Africa	110,159	50
36	Emalahleni, South Africa	108,673	53
37	Uitenhage, South Africa	103,639	50
38	Vereeniging, South Africa	100,000	45
39	Worcester, South Africa	97,098	44
40	Vanderbijlpark, South Africa	95,840	51
41	Mbabane, Eswatini	94,874	37
42	Kwekwe, Zimbabwe	93,072	39
43	Middelburg, South Africa	87,348	51
44	Brackenfell, South Africa	80,000	45
45	Kadoma, Zimbabwe	77,749	31
46	Upington, South Africa	74,834	51
47	Masvingo, Zimbabwe	72,527	31
48	Grahamstown, South Africa	67,264	50
49	Welkom, South Africa	64,130	49
50	Oudtshoorn, South Africa	61,507	50
51	Mossel Bay, South Africa	60,000	50
52	Edenvale, South Africa	60,000	63
53	Richards Bay, South Africa	57,387	51
54	Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe	56,794	33
55	Somerset West, South Africa	55,166	50
56	Marondera, Zimbabwe	52,283	40
57	Knysna, South Africa	51,078	55
58	Potchefstroom, South Africa	43,448	45
59	Bindura, Zimbabwe	40,233	29
60	Secunda, South Africa	40,198	45

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.