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	$1,339	64
62	Mossel Bay, South Africa	60,000	$1,098	53
63	Richards Bay, South Africa	57,387	$1,039	50
64	Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe	56,794	$637	31
65	Hermanus, South Africa	56,139	$1,114	53
66	Somerset West, South Africa	55,166	$1,249	59
67	Port Shepstone, South Africa	52,793	$990	48
68	Marondera, Zimbabwe	52,283	$767	37
69	Knysna, South Africa	51,078	$1,184	57
70	Vredenburg, South Africa	45,986	$964	46
71	Potchefstroom, South Africa	43,448	$999	48
72	Bindura, Zimbabwe	40,233	$619	29
73	Secunda, South Africa	40,198	$1,063	50
74	Durbanville, South Africa	40,000	$1,143	54
75	Plettenberg Bay, South Africa	38,126	$1,195	57
76	Tlokweng, Botswana	35,982	$571	27
77	Heidelberg, GP, South Africa	35,000	$1,088	52
78	Margate, South Africa	34,407	$875	42
79	Howick, South Africa	32,453	$1,068	51
80	Redcliff, Zimbabwe	32,346	$616	29
81	Ballito, South Africa	27,718	$630	30
82	Jeffreys Bay, South Africa	27,107	$1,035	50
83	Hartebeespoort, South Africa	26,732	$959	46
84	Palapye, Botswana	26,000	$570	27
85	Louis Trichardt, South Africa	25,360	$1,094	52
86	Scottburgh, South Africa	23,949	$1,096	52
87	Stellenbosch, South Africa	19,068	$1,172	56
88	KwaMhlanga, South Africa	18,604	$1,095	52
89	Shurugwi, Zimbabwe	16,866	$600	29
90	Amersfoort, South Africa	12,335	$1,067	51

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

Last update: November 10, 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.