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
61	Puente Alto, Chile	568,106	54
62	Barcelona, Venezuela	560,122	39
63	Londrina, Brazil	555,965	36
64	Juiz de Fora, Brazil	540,756	29
65	Florianopolis, Brazil	537,211	50
66	Salta, Argentina	535,303	53
67	Ibague, Colombia	530,000	30
68	San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina	527,607	48
69	San Juan, Argentina	522,029	30
70	Serra, Brazil	520,653	36
71	Santa Marta, Colombia	500,000	53
72	Cuenca, Ecuador	495,776	45
73	San Lorenzo, Paraguay	489,000	22
74	Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil	483,540	38
75	Niteroi, Brazil	481,749	46
76	Vila Velha, Brazil	467,722	42
77	Caxias do Sul, Brazil	463,501	34
78	Porto Velho, Brazil	460,434	38
79	Lanus, Argentina	459,263	44
80	Manizales, Colombia	458,442	37
81	Monteria, Colombia	454,032	39
82	Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil	451,505	42
83	Jundiai, Brazil	443,221	42
84	Cusco, Peru	428,450	38
85	Maracay, Venezuela	425,606	33
86	Piracicaba, Brazil	423,323	41
87	Campina Grande, Brazil	419,379	31
88	Santos, Brazil	418,608	48
89	Montes Claros, Brazil	414,240	38
90	Boa Vista, Brazil	413,486	42

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.