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	Price per month for a nomad	Living Index
61	Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico	258,913	$1,134	55
62	La Paz, Mexico	250,141	$1,263	61
63	Campeche, Mexico	249,623	$1,181	55
64	San Miguel, El Salvador	247,126	$1,314	63
65	Monclova, Mexico	237,169	$1,235	58
66	Chilpancingo De Los Bravo, Mexico	225,728	$1,173	57
67	Puerto Vallarta, Mexico	224,166	$1,590	76
68	Toluca, Mexico	223,876	$1,123	53
69	Cuajimalpa, Mexico	217,686	$1,152	57
70	Tapachula, Mexico	217,550	$1,127	56
71	Coatzacoalcos, Mexico	212,540	$1,182	56
72	Leon, Nicaragua	207,533	$823	39
73	Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico	202,694	$1,602	78
74	Los Cabos, Mexico	202,694	$1,392	67
75	La Ceiba, Honduras	196,856	$729	35
76	Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico	191,238	$1,206	56
77	Zamora de Hidalgo, Mexico	186,102	$1,158	58
78	San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico	183,509	$907	43
79	Masaya, Nicaragua	178,835	$820	39
80	San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico	176,685	$1,216	58
81	Piedras Negras, Mexico	173,959	$1,177	56
82	Santa Ana, El Salvador	167,200	$1,145	55
83	Salamanca, Mexico	160,682	$1,181	56
84	Acuna, Mexico	160,225	$1,114	56
85	Matagalpa, Nicaragua	159,982	$658	31
86	Manzanillo, Mexico	159,853	$1,217	58
87	Cuautla, Mexico	157,336	$1,225	59
88	Playa del Carmen, Mexico	149,923	$1,203	57
89	Colima, Mexico	146,965	$942	45
90	Santa Tecla, El Salvador	138,695	$1,344	65

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.