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	63
62	Mayari, Cuba	29,259	69
63	George Town, Cayman Islands	28,089	224
64	Añasco, Puerto Rico	28,000	60
65	Varadero, Cuba	27,170	63
66	Miches, Dominican Republic	25,994	34
67	Kingstown, Saint Vincent And The Grenadines	25,720	60
68	Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico	25,000	60
69	Vega Baja, Puerto Rico	23,415	55
70	Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico	23,000	60
71	Castries, Saint Lucia	22,000	66
72	Saint John's, Antigua And Barbuda	21,926	85
73	Luquillo, Puerto Rico	20,000	59
74	Guayama, Puerto Rico	18,797	99
75	Roseau, Dominica	15,000	58
76	Jayuya, Puerto Rico	15,000	61
77	Humacao, Puerto Rico	14,972	72
78	Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe	14,486	81
79	Cayey, Puerto Rico	13,999	99
80	Yaguajay, Cuba	13,827	56
81	Road Town, British Virgin Islands	12,603	141
82	Kralendijk, Bonaire	12,531	122
83	Dorado, Puerto Rico	12,172	58
84	Fajardo, Puerto Rico	11,647	88
85	West Bay, Cayman Islands	11,269	180
86	Manati, Puerto Rico	10,974	92
87	Aguadilla, Puerto Rico	10,919	49
88	Saint George's, Grenada	7,500	57
89	Philipsburg, Sint Maarten	1,900	148

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.