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
31	Sao Luis, Brazil	1,037,775	$756	36
32	Maceio - Alagoas, Brazil	1,031,597	$780	37
33	Rosario, Argentina	1,029,619	$946	45
34	Mendoza, Argentina	937,154	$1,363	65
35	Campo Grande, Brazil	898,100	$769	37
36	Teresina, Brazil	866,300	$704	34
37	Cochabamba, Bolivia	856,198	$497	24
38	Joao Pessoa, Brazil	833,932	$969	46
39	Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil	810,729	$749	36
40	Duque de Caxias, Brazil	808,161	$754	36
41	Nova Iguacu, Brazil	785,867	$694	33
42	Cucuta, Colombia	777,106	$1,399	67
43	Natal, Brazil	751,300	$793	38
44	Santo Andre, Brazil	748,919	$909	44
45	Asuncion, Paraguay	742,023	$1,032	50
46	Osasco, Brazil	728,615	$913	44
47	Sorocaba, Brazil	723,682	$820	39
48	La Paz, Bolivia	715,900	$534	26
49	Uberlandia, Brazil	713,224	$835	40
50	Ribeirao Preto, Brazil	698,642	$800	38
51	Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil	697,054	$1,021	49
52	Cuiaba, Brazil	650,877	$1,008	48
53	Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Brazil	644,037	$803	38
54	Contagem, Brazil	621,863	$724	35
55	Joinville, Brazil	616,317	$950	46
56	Lomas de Zamora, Argentina	616,279	$1,215	58
57	Feira de Santana, Brazil	616,272	$578	28
58	Aracaju, Brazil	602,757	$659	31
59	Mar del Plata, Argentina	593,337	$1,161	55
60	Soledad, Colombia	582,156	$1,371	65

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.