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	$1,207	58
62	Barcelona, Venezuela	560,122	$630	30
63	Londrina, Brazil	555,965	$756	36
64	Juiz de Fora, Brazil	540,756	$673	32
65	Florianopolis, Brazil	537,211	$1,148	55
66	Salta, Argentina	535,303	$1,134	54
67	Ibague, Colombia	530,000	$1,136	54
68	San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina	527,607	$1,184	58
69	Maturin, Venezuela	521,955	$708	34
70	Serra, Brazil	520,653	$794	38
71	Cuenca, Ecuador	495,776	$1,013	49
72	San Lorenzo, Paraguay	489,000	$541	26
73	Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil	483,540	$750	36
74	Niteroi, Brazil	481,749	$968	46
75	Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP, Brazil	480,393	$756	36
76	Vila Velha, Brazil	467,722	$900	43
77	Pereira, Colombia	467,269	$1,359	65
78	Caxias do Sul, Brazil	463,501	$744	35
79	Porto Velho, Brazil	460,434	$825	39
80	Lanus, Argentina	459,263	$1,144	54
81	Manizales, Colombia	458,442	$1,172	56
82	Monteria, Colombia	454,032	$1,403	64
83	Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil	451,505	$906	43
84	Jundiai, Brazil	443,221	$792	38
85	Cusco, Peru	428,450	$691	33
86	Maracay, Venezuela	425,606	$735	35
87	Piracicaba, Brazil	423,323	$863	41
88	Campina Grande, Brazil	419,379	$692	33
89	Santos, Brazil	418,608	$986	48
90	Montes Claros, Brazil	414,240	$813	39

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.