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
361	Contenda, Brazil	19,128	39
362	Trancoso, Brazil	18,618	39
363	Quellón, Chile	17,552	55
364	Arequipa, Peru	17,062	32
365	Tena, Ecuador	16,669	40
366	Intag Valley, Ecuador	15,000	45
367	Pisco, Peru	14,917	26
368	Cafayate, Argentina	14,850	47
369	Caranavi, Bolivia	13,569	56
370	Libertad, Uruguay	10,166	52
371	Salento, Colombia	9,748	39
372	Abra Pampa, Argentina	9,400	48
373	Punta del Este, Uruguay	9,300	103
374	La Merced, Peru	8,000	26
375	Piriapolis, Uruguay	8,000	71
376	Atlantida, Uruguay	6,000	80
377	San Pedro de Atacama, Chile	5,347	54
378	Montanita, Ecuador	5,000	45
379	Stanley, Falkland Islands	2,500	119
380	Rosignol, Guyana	2,000	82
381	San Antonio de Petrel, Chile	2,000	55
382	Minca, Colombia	500	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.