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
271	Catanduva, Brazil	115,791	$854	41
272	Paulo Afonso, Brazil	112,870	$829	39
273	Passos, Brazil	111,939	$888	42
274	Araxa, Brazil	111,691	$818	39
275	Tandil, Argentina	110,627	$1,282	61
276	Paulinia, Brazil	110,537	$919	44
277	Ibarra, Ecuador	108,666	$657	32
278	Itumbiara, Brazil	107,970	$764	37
279	Lavras, Brazil	104,761	$806	39
280	Pergamino, Argentina	104,086	$1,325	63
281	Salto, Uruguay	104,028	$1,319	63
282	Porlamar, Venezuela	103,496	$628	30
283	Assis, Brazil	101,409	$823	39
284	Campo Mourão, Brazil	99,432	$722	34
285	Ayacucho, Peru	99,427	$473	23
286	Miraflores, Peru	99,337	$1,125	54
287	Esmeraldas, Ecuador	95,216	$857	41
288	Itajubá, MG, Brazil	93,073	$823	39
289	Ubatuba, Brazil	92,981	$773	37
290	Lajeado, Brazil	92,951	$686	33
291	Avaré, Brazil	92,805	$765	37
292	Mogi Mirim, Brazil	92,558	$749	36
293	Sao Joao da Boa Vista, Brazil	92,547	$712	34
294	Pato Branco, Brazil	91,836	$812	39
295	Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, Argentina	89,882	$1,254	58
296	Necochea, Argentina	84,784	$1,229	58
297	Babahoyo, Ecuador	84,164	$798	39
298	Tulcán, Ecuador	82,734	$919	43
299	Pilar, Argentina	81,120	$1,198	57
300	Goiana, Brazil	81,055	$811	39

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

Last update: November 10, 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.