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	Cachoeira do Sul, Brazil	80,070	37
302	Villa María, Argentina	80,006	54
303	Ushuaia, Argentina	79,538	44
304	Alfenas, Brazil	78,970	34
305	Lecheria, Venezuela	78,784	41
306	Vinhedo, Brazil	76,540	41
307	Bebedouro, Brazil	76,373	39
308	Itapema, Brazil	75,940	35
309	Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil	74,821	36
310	Linares, Chile	73,602	52
311	Villarrica, Paraguay	73,400	44
312	Rio do Sul, Brazil	72,587	36
313	Las Piedras, Uruguay	71,268	45
314	Barra do Garças, Brazil	69,210	39
315	San Antonio, Paraguay	68,127	27
316	Leticia, Colombia	66,000	62
317	Cayenne, French Guiana	65,493	111
318	Bertioga, Brazil	64,188	37
319	Maldonado, Uruguay	62,592	63
320	Chiclayo, Peru	60,325	36
321	Ibitinga, Brazil	60,033	39
322	Linden, Guyana	60,000	48
323	Andradina, Brazil	59,783	39
324	Jaguariúna, Brazil	59,347	41
325	Irati, Brazil	59,250	35
326	Cerro de Pasco, Peru	58,899	25
327	São Gabriel, Brazil	58,487	37
328	Chivilcoy, Argentina	58,152	59
329	Latacunga, Ecuador	57,127	36
330	Canoinhas, Brazil	55,016	37

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.