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	$750	36
32	Maceio - Alagoas, Brazil	1,031,597	$731	35
33	Rosario, Argentina	1,029,619	$950	45
34	Mendoza, Argentina	937,154	$1,362	66
35	Campo Grande, Brazil	898,100	$761	36
36	Teresina, Brazil	866,300	$696	33
37	Cochabamba, Bolivia	856,198	$457	22
38	Joao Pessoa, Brazil	833,932	$873	42
39	Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil	810,729	$752	36
40	Duque de Caxias, Brazil	808,161	$738	35
41	Nova Iguacu, Brazil	785,867	$685	33
42	Cucuta, Colombia	777,106	$1,311	67
43	Natal, Brazil	751,300	$789	38
44	Santo Andre, Brazil	748,919	$899	43
45	Asuncion, Paraguay	742,023	$985	47
46	Osasco, Brazil	728,615	$920	44
47	Sorocaba, Brazil	723,682	$776	37
48	La Paz, Bolivia	715,900	$502	24
49	Uberlandia, Brazil	713,224	$769	37
50	Ribeirao Preto, Brazil	698,642	$773	37
51	Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil	697,054	$1,017	49
52	Cuiaba, Brazil	650,877	$994	48
53	Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Brazil	644,037	$777	37
54	Contagem, Brazil	621,863	$716	34
55	Joinville, Brazil	616,317	$950	45
56	Lomas de Zamora, Argentina	616,279	$1,135	54
57	Feira de Santana, Brazil	616,272	$572	27
58	Aracaju, Brazil	602,757	$646	31
59	Mar del Plata, Argentina	593,337	$1,154	55
60	Soledad, Colombia	582,156	$1,273	64

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 10, 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.