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	50
62	Barcelona, Venezuela	560,122	36
63	Londrina, Brazil	555,965	37
64	Juiz de Fora, Brazil	540,756	34
65	Florianopolis, Brazil	537,211	56
66	Salta, Argentina	535,303	49
67	Ibague, Colombia	530,000	35
68	San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina	527,607	48
69	San Juan, Argentina	522,029	41
70	Maturin, Venezuela	521,955	33
71	Serra, Brazil	520,653	39
72	Santa Marta, Colombia	500,000	60
73	Cuenca, Ecuador	495,776	43
74	San Lorenzo, Paraguay	489,000	26
75	Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil	483,540	35
76	Niteroi, Brazil	481,749	48
77	Vila Velha, Brazil	467,722	44
78	Caxias do Sul, Brazil	463,501	36
79	Porto Velho, Brazil	460,434	38
80	Lanus, Argentina	459,263	50
81	Manizales, Colombia	458,442	36
82	Monteria, Colombia	454,032	62
83	Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil	451,505	44
84	Jundiai, Brazil	443,221	39
85	Cusco, Peru	428,450	32
86	Maracay, Venezuela	425,606	34
87	Piracicaba, Brazil	423,323	47
88	Campina Grande, Brazil	419,379	32
89	Santos, Brazil	418,608	51
90	Montes Claros, Brazil	414,240	38

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

Last update: August 25, 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.