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 North America Northern America Central America Caribbean

Rank	City	Population	Living Index
61	Puerto Padre, Cuba	34,086	66
62	Mayari, Cuba	29,259	76
63	George Town, Cayman Islands	28,089	231
64	Añasco, Puerto Rico	28,000	73
65	Varadero, Cuba	27,170	81
66	Miches, Dominican Republic	25,994	39
67	Kingstown, Saint Vincent And The Grenadines	25,720	66
68	Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico	25,000	73
69	Vega Baja, Puerto Rico	23,415	58
70	Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico	23,000	85
71	Castries, Saint Lucia	22,000	69
72	Saint John's, Antigua And Barbuda	21,926	85
73	Luquillo, Puerto Rico	20,000	63
74	Guayama, Puerto Rico	18,797	106
75	Jayuya, Puerto Rico	15,000	85
76	Roseau, Dominica	15,000	61
77	Humacao, Puerto Rico	14,972	82
78	Cayey, Puerto Rico	13,999	113
79	Yaguajay, Cuba	13,827	61
80	Road Town, British Virgin Islands	12,603	141
81	Kralendijk, Bonaire	12,531	122
82	Dorado, Puerto Rico	12,172	73
83	Fajardo, Puerto Rico	11,647	96
84	West Bay, Cayman Islands	11,269	192
85	Manati, Puerto Rico	10,974	100
86	Aguadilla, Puerto Rico	10,919	53
87	Saint George's, Grenada	7,500	61
88	Philipsburg, Sint Maarten	1,900	157

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.