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
301	Lecheria, Venezuela	78,784	48
302	Vinhedo, Brazil	76,540	42
303	Bebedouro, Brazil	76,373	39
304	Itapema, Brazil	75,940	39
305	Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil	74,821	38
306	Linares, Chile	73,602	54
307	Villarrica, Paraguay	73,400	34
308	Rio do Sul, Brazil	72,587	36
309	Las Piedras, Uruguay	71,268	48
310	Barra do Garças, Brazil	69,210	39
311	San Antonio, Paraguay	68,127	21
312	Leticia, Colombia	66,000	39
313	Cayenne, French Guiana	65,493	112
314	Bertioga, Brazil	64,188	38
315	Maldonado, Uruguay	62,592	66
316	Chiclayo, Peru	60,325	37
317	Ibitinga, Brazil	60,033	39
318	Linden, Guyana	60,000	47
319	Andradina, Brazil	59,783	39
320	Jaguariúna, Brazil	59,347	39
321	Irati, Brazil	59,250	36
322	Cerro de Pasco, Peru	58,899	26
323	São Gabriel, Brazil	58,487	38
324	Chivilcoy, Argentina	58,152	53
325	Latacunga, Ecuador	57,127	36
326	Canoinhas, Brazil	55,016	37
327	Imbituba, Brazil	52,579	39
328	Louveira, Brazil	51,847	40
329	Osório, Brazil	47,396	39
330	Campos do Jordão, Brazil	46,974	39

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.