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
61	Bucaramanga, Colombia	581,130	$1,221	58
62	Barcelona, Venezuela	560,122	$635	30
63	Londrina, Brazil	555,965	$766	37
64	Juiz de Fora, Brazil	540,756	$706	34
65	Florianopolis, Brazil	537,211	$1,158	55
66	Salta, Argentina	535,303	$1,149	55
67	Ibague, Colombia	530,000	$1,137	55
68	San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina	527,607	$1,266	61
69	San Juan, Argentina	522,029	$897	43
70	Maturin, Venezuela	521,955	$712	34
71	Serra, Brazil	520,653	$821	39
72	Cuenca, Ecuador	495,776	$1,006	48
73	San Lorenzo, Paraguay	489,000	$576	28
74	Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil	483,540	$762	36
75	Niteroi, Brazil	481,749	$983	47
76	Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP, Brazil	480,393	$763	37
77	Vila Velha, Brazil	467,722	$904	44
78	Pereira, Colombia	467,269	$1,375	66
79	Caxias do Sul, Brazil	463,501	$753	36
80	Porto Velho, Brazil	460,434	$815	39
81	Lanus, Argentina	459,263	$1,098	52
82	Manizales, Colombia	458,442	$1,173	56
83	Monteria, Colombia	454,032	$1,358	65
84	Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil	451,505	$911	44
85	Jundiai, Brazil	443,221	$795	38
86	Cusco, Peru	428,450	$683	33
87	Maracay, Venezuela	425,606	$738	35
88	Piracicaba, Brazil	423,323	$962	46
89	Campina Grande, Brazil	419,379	$700	33
90	Santos, Brazil	418,608	$1,059	51

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.