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
271	Tandil, Argentina	110,627	51
272	Paulinia, Brazil	110,537	44
273	Ibarra, Ecuador	108,666	31
274	Tarija, Bolivia	108,241	38
275	Itumbiara, Brazil	107,970	37
276	Lavras, Brazil	104,761	38
277	Pergamino, Argentina	104,086	57
278	Salto, Uruguay	104,028	63
279	Assis, Brazil	101,409	39
280	Campo Mourão, Brazil	99,432	39
281	Miraflores, Peru	99,337	53
282	Esmeraldas, Ecuador	95,216	46
283	Itajubá, MG, Brazil	93,073	38
284	Ubatuba, Brazil	92,981	41
285	Lajeado, Brazil	92,951	34
286	Avaré, Brazil	92,805	37
287	Mogi Mirim, Brazil	92,558	37
288	Sao Joao da Boa Vista, Brazil	92,547	40
289	Pato Branco, Brazil	91,836	39
290	Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, Argentina	89,882	48
291	Necochea, Argentina	84,784	48
292	Babahoyo, Ecuador	84,164	44
293	Tulcán, Ecuador	82,734	44
294	Pilar, Argentina	81,120	54
295	Goiana, Brazil	81,055	37
296	Seropédica, Brazil	80,596	39
297	Cachoeira do Sul, Brazil	80,070	38
298	Villa María, Argentina	80,006	48
299	Ushuaia, Argentina	79,538	48
300	Alfenas, Brazil	78,970	33

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.