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
61	Durbanville, South Africa	40,000	52
62	Tlokweng, Botswana	35,982	31
63	Heidelberg, GP, South Africa	35,000	51
64	Redcliff, Zimbabwe	32,346	31
65	Jeffreys Bay, South Africa	27,107	52
66	Palapye, Botswana	26,000	31
67	Louis Trichardt, South Africa	25,360	50
68	Tsumeb, Namibia	20,000	38
69	Stellenbosch, South Africa	19,068	53
70	KwaMhlanga, South Africa	18,604	50
71	Shurugwi, Zimbabwe	16,866	31
72	Amersfoort, South Africa	12,335	50
73	Burgersfort, South Africa	10,000	49
74	Ladismith, WC, South Africa	7,000	49

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.