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	$730	35
92	Chinandega, Nicaragua	135,578	$769	37
93	Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica	135,000	$1,336	64
94	San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico	132,169	$2,568	125
95	Granada, Nicaragua	128,937	$918	44
96	Heredia, Costa Rica	117,000	$1,693	81
97	Parral, Mexico	113,843	$1,177	56
98	Ahuachapan, El Salvador	110,511	$1,831	88
99	Cartago, Costa Rica	110,000	$1,665	79
100	Texcoco de Mora, Mexico	105,165	$1,177	56
101	Rosarito, Mexico	100,660	$1,147	58
102	Ciudad Lerdo, Mexico	96,243	$868	41
103	Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico	83,637	$1,172	56
104	Cozumel, Mexico	77,236	$1,136	54
105	San Miguel de Allende, Mexico	72,452	$1,598	76
106	Guanajuato, Mexico	70,068	$1,041	50
107	Puntarenas, Costa Rica	70,000	$1,035	49
108	Zihuatanejo, Mexico	67,408	$1,180	56
109	Tibas, Costa Rica	64,842	$1,724	82
110	Belize City, Belize	63,999	$1,233	59
111	San Andres Tuxtla, Mexico	61,719	$1,141	56
112	Ayutuxtepeque, El Salvador	60,000	$960	46
113	Sonsonate, El Salvador	59,468	$1,157	56
114	Comayagua, Honduras	58,600	$858	41
115	Diriamba, Nicaragua	57,542	$813	39
116	Puerto Penasco, Mexico	56,756	$1,243	59
117	San Francisco, Costa Rica	55,923	$1,689	81
118	Rivas, Nicaragua	53,208	$900	43
119	Jinotepe, Nicaragua	53,081	$822	39
120	Alajuela, Costa Rica	50,000	$1,011	48

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.