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
91	Zacatecas, Mexico	138,444	$727	35
92	Chinandega, Nicaragua	135,578	$766	37
93	Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica	135,000	$1,315	63
94	San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico	132,169	$2,584	124
95	Granada, Nicaragua	128,937	$924	44
96	Heredia, Costa Rica	117,000	$1,694	81
97	Parral, Mexico	113,843	$1,202	57
98	Ahuachapan, El Salvador	110,511	$1,848	88
99	Cartago, Costa Rica	110,000	$1,645	78
100	Texcoco de Mora, Mexico	105,165	$1,196	57
101	Rosarito, Mexico	100,660	$1,242	59
102	Ciudad Lerdo, Mexico	96,243	$889	43
103	Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico	83,637	$1,191	57
104	Cozumel, Mexico	77,236	$1,157	56
105	San Miguel de Allende, Mexico	72,452	$1,584	76
106	Guanajuato, Mexico	70,068	$1,029	50
107	Puntarenas, Costa Rica	70,000	$1,018	49
108	Zihuatanejo, Mexico	67,408	$1,196	57
109	Tibas, Costa Rica	64,842	$1,710	82
110	Belize City, Belize	63,999	$1,234	59
111	San Andres Tuxtla, Mexico	61,719	$1,205	57
112	Ayutuxtepeque, El Salvador	60,000	$958	46
113	Sonsonate, El Salvador	59,468	$1,170	56
114	Comayagua, Honduras	58,600	$854	41
115	Diriamba, Nicaragua	57,542	$823	39
116	Puerto Penasco, Mexico	56,756	$1,269	61
117	San Francisco, Costa Rica	55,923	$1,683	80
118	Rivas, Nicaragua	53,208	$896	43
119	Jinotepe, Nicaragua	53,081	$823	39
120	Alajuela, Costa Rica	50,000	$1,006	48

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.