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 South America

Rank	City	Population	Price per month for a nomad	Living Index
1	Sao Paulo, Brazil	11,451,999	$1,137	54
2	Lima, Peru	9,989,369	$1,042	50
3	Bogota, Colombia	8,181,047	$1,387	67
4	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	6,211,223	$1,185	57
5	Santiago, Chile	6,139,087	$1,144	55
6	Guayaquil, Ecuador	3,500,000	$1,281	61
7	Caracas, Venezuela	3,274,000	$1,379	65
8	Buenos Aires, Argentina	2,891,082	$1,624	78
9	Brasilia, Brazil	2,817,381	$907	43
10	Quito, Ecuador	2,671,191	$1,014	49
11	Cali, Colombia	2,568,609	$1,214	58
12	Medellin, Colombia	2,486,723	$1,692	80
13	Fortaleza, Brazil	2,428,708	$842	40
14	Salvador, Brazil	2,417,678	$1,007	48
15	Belo Horizonte, Brazil	2,315,560	$953	45
16	Valencia, Venezuela	2,299,026	$819	39
17	Manaus, Brazil	2,063,689	$919	44
18	Maracaibo, Venezuela	2,000,000	$787	38
19	Santa Cruz, Bolivia	1,800,000	$676	32
20	Curitiba, Brazil	1,773,718	$1,000	48
21	Cordoba, Argentina	1,655,481	$1,383	66
22	Recife, Brazil	1,488,920	$916	44
23	Goiania, Brazil	1,437,366	$940	45
24	Porto Alegre, Brazil	1,332,833	$947	45
25	Barranquilla, Colombia	1,327,209	$1,520	72
26	Montevideo, Uruguay	1,319,108	$1,764	85
27	Belem, Brazil	1,303,403	$860	41
28	Guarulhos, Brazil	1,291,771	$897	43
29	Barquisimeto, Venezuela	1,240,714	$793	38
30	Campinas, Brazil	1,139,047	$947	45

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.