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	51
32	Gweru, Zimbabwe	141,260	27
33	Kabwe, Zambia	117,517	28
34	Bellville, South Africa	112,507	54
35	Paarl, South Africa	112,045	84
36	Nelspruit, South Africa	110,159	48
37	Emalahleni, South Africa	108,673	57
38	Chilanga, Zambia	107,051	28
39	Uitenhage, South Africa	103,639	53
40	Vereeniging, South Africa	100,000	45
41	Worcester, South Africa	97,098	33
42	Vanderbijlpark, South Africa	95,840	49
43	Mbabane, Eswatini	94,874	36
44	Kwekwe, Zimbabwe	93,072	34
45	Middelburg, South Africa	87,348	53
46	Brackenfell, South Africa	80,000	49
47	Kadoma, Zimbabwe	77,749	28
48	Upington, South Africa	74,834	53
49	Masvingo, Zimbabwe	72,527	28
50	Grahamstown, South Africa	67,264	53
51	Welkom, South Africa	64,130	51
52	Oudtshoorn, South Africa	61,507	53
53	Edenvale, South Africa	60,000	66
54	Mossel Bay, South Africa	60,000	52
55	Richards Bay, South Africa	57,387	48
56	Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe	56,794	29
57	Somerset West, South Africa	55,166	55
58	Marondera, Zimbabwe	52,283	35
59	Knysna, South Africa	51,078	56
60	Potchefstroom, South Africa	43,448	47

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: August 25, 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.