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
301	Goiana, Brazil	81,055	$796	39
302	Seropédica, Brazil	80,596	$714	34
303	Cachoeira do Sul, Brazil	80,070	$798	38
304	Villa María, Argentina	80,006	$1,270	61
305	Ushuaia, Argentina	79,538	$956	46
306	Alfenas, Brazil	78,970	$731	35
307	Lecheria, Venezuela	78,784	$879	42
308	Vinhedo, Brazil	76,540	$869	42
309	Bebedouro, Brazil	76,373	$826	39
310	Itapema, Brazil	75,940	$770	37
311	La Libertad, Ecuador	75,881	$821	39
312	Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil	74,821	$766	37
313	Linares, Chile	73,602	$1,013	48
314	Villarrica, Paraguay	73,400	$997	48
315	Rio do Sul, Brazil	72,587	$774	37
316	Mariano Roque Alonso, Paraguay	72,008	$565	27
317	Las Piedras, Uruguay	71,268	$956	46
318	Barra do Garças, Brazil	69,210	$824	39
319	San Antonio, Paraguay	68,127	$610	29
320	Leticia, Colombia	66,000	$1,386	66
321	Cayenne, French Guiana	65,493	$2,353	112
322	Bertioga, Brazil	64,188	$796	38
323	Maldonado, Uruguay	62,592	$1,361	65
324	Chiclayo, Peru	60,325	$995	48
325	Ibitinga, Brazil	60,033	$829	39
326	Linden, Guyana	60,000	$1,054	50
327	Andradina, Brazil	59,783	$800	38
328	Jaguariúna, Brazil	59,347	$872	42
329	Irati, Brazil	59,250	$738	35
330	Cerro de Pasco, Peru	58,899	$548	26

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.