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	Passos, Brazil	111,939	42
272	Araxa, Brazil	111,691	39
273	Tandil, Argentina	110,627	55
274	Paulinia, Brazil	110,537	44
275	Ibarra, Ecuador	108,666	32
276	Tarija, Bolivia	108,241	38
277	Itumbiara, Brazil	107,970	37
278	Lavras, Brazil	104,761	39
279	Pergamino, Argentina	104,086	60
280	Salto, Uruguay	104,028	61
281	Porlamar, Venezuela	103,496	32
282	Assis, Brazil	101,409	39
283	Campo Mourão, Brazil	99,432	39
284	Ayacucho, Peru	99,427	23
285	Miraflores, Peru	99,337	52
286	Esmeraldas, Ecuador	95,216	37
287	Itajubá, MG, Brazil	93,073	36
288	Ubatuba, Brazil	92,981	38
289	Lajeado, Brazil	92,951	34
290	Avaré, Brazil	92,805	37
291	Mogi Mirim, Brazil	92,558	36
292	Sao Joao da Boa Vista, Brazil	92,547	36
293	Pato Branco, Brazil	91,836	39
294	Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, Argentina	89,882	54
295	Necochea, Argentina	84,784	54
296	Babahoyo, Ecuador	84,164	34
297	Tulcán, Ecuador	82,734	38
298	Pilar, Argentina	81,120	55
299	Goiana, Brazil	81,055	38
300	Seropédica, Brazil	80,596	39

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

Last update: August 25, 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.