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	Living Index
1	Sao Paulo, Brazil	11,451,999	55
2	Lima, Peru	9,989,369	48
3	Bogota, Colombia	8,181,047	62
4	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	6,211,223	57
5	Santiago, Chile	6,139,087	56
6	Guayaquil, Ecuador	3,500,000	53
7	Caracas, Venezuela	3,274,000	62
8	Buenos Aires, Argentina	2,891,082	77
9	Brasilia, Brazil	2,817,381	45
10	Quito, Ecuador	2,671,191	45
11	Cali, Colombia	2,568,609	51
12	Medellin, Colombia	2,486,723	79
13	Fortaleza, Brazil	2,428,708	42
14	Salvador, Brazil	2,417,678	44
15	Belo Horizonte, Brazil	2,315,560	44
16	Valencia, Venezuela	2,299,026	39
17	Manaus, Brazil	2,063,689	40
18	Maracaibo, Venezuela	2,000,000	36
19	Santa Cruz, Bolivia	1,800,000	26
20	Curitiba, Brazil	1,773,718	47
21	Cordoba, Argentina	1,655,481	64
22	Recife, Brazil	1,488,920	42
23	Goiania, Brazil	1,437,366	40
24	Porto Alegre, Brazil	1,332,833	45
25	Barranquilla, Colombia	1,327,209	71
26	Montevideo, Uruguay	1,319,108	83
27	Belem, Brazil	1,303,403	43
28	Guarulhos, Brazil	1,291,771	43
29	Campinas, Brazil	1,139,047	46
30	Sao Luis, Brazil	1,037,775	40

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: September 15, 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.