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
61	Edenvale, South Africa	60,000	$1,314	63
62	Mossel Bay, South Africa	60,000	$1,086	52
63	Richards Bay, South Africa	57,387	$1,022	49
64	Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe	56,794	$644	31
65	Hermanus, South Africa	56,139	$1,120	53
66	Somerset West, South Africa	55,166	$1,201	57
67	Port Shepstone, South Africa	52,793	$1,006	47
68	Marondera, Zimbabwe	52,283	$764	37
69	Knysna, South Africa	51,078	$1,193	57
70	Vredenburg, South Africa	45,986	$970	46
71	Potchefstroom, South Africa	43,448	$1,170	56
72	Bindura, Zimbabwe	40,233	$611	29
73	Secunda, South Africa	40,198	$1,079	50
74	Durbanville, South Africa	40,000	$1,133	54
75	Plettenberg Bay, South Africa	38,126	$1,184	56
76	Tlokweng, Botswana	35,982	$570	27
77	Heidelberg, GP, South Africa	35,000	$1,084	52
78	Margate, South Africa	34,407	$883	42
79	Howick, South Africa	32,453	$1,110	51
80	Redcliff, Zimbabwe	32,346	$614	29
81	Ballito, South Africa	27,718	$622	30
82	Jeffreys Bay, South Africa	27,107	$1,045	50
83	Hartebeespoort, South Africa	26,732	$946	45
84	Palapye, Botswana	26,000	$566	27
85	Louis Trichardt, South Africa	25,360	$1,078	52
86	Scottburgh, South Africa	23,949	$1,105	52
87	Stellenbosch, South Africa	19,068	$1,156	55
88	KwaMhlanga, South Africa	18,604	$1,105	52
89	Shurugwi, Zimbabwe	16,866	$600	29
90	Amersfoort, South Africa	12,335	$1,073	51

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.