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
121	Santiago, Panama	31,065	70
122	San Rafael, Costa Rica	30,000	80
123	San Felipe, Mexico	28,452	54
124	San Juan, Costa Rica	27,000	80
125	Turrialba, Costa Rica	27,000	80
126	Atotonilco el Alto, Mexico	26,874	59
127	Puerto Escondido, Mexico	25,902	56
128	Bugaba, Panama	25,000	34
129	Guadalupe, Costa Rica	23,000	76
130	Chapala, Mexico	21,596	51
131	San Isidro, Costa Rica	17,000	78
132	Grecia, Costa Rica	16,700	69
133	Anamoros, El Salvador	16,594	37
134	Upala, Costa Rica	15,000	65
135	San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua	14,741	52
136	Tlaxcala, Mexico	13,555	37
137	Isla Mujeres, Mexico	13,174	55
138	Santa Ana, Costa Rica	13,000	80
139	Escazu, Costa Rica	11,984	104
140	San Fernando, Mexico	11,867	55
141	Panajachel, Guatemala	11,142	33
142	San Miguel Dueñas, Guatemala	11,000	35
143	Alamos, Sonora, Mexico	10,961	55
144	San Ramon, Costa Rica	10,000	78
145	Santa Barbara, Costa Rica	8,000	77
146	Zacapoaxtla, Mexico	8,000	38
147	Atenas, Costa Rica	7,000	65
148	Boquete, Panama	7,000	69
149	Tamarindo, Costa Rica	6,000	91
150	Sayulita, Mexico	5,000	55

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.