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
91	Montes Claros, Brazil	414,240	$818	39
92	Boa Vista, Brazil	413,486	$758	36
93	Maringa, Brazil	409,657	$759	36
94	Villavicencio, Colombia	407,977	$1,418	66
95	El Alto, Bolivia	405,492	$314	15
96	Anapolis, Brazil	398,869	$648	31
97	Diadema, Brazil	393,237	$581	28
98	San Juan de Pasto, Colombia	392,930	$1,463	67
99	Pasto, Colombia	392,930	$800	38
100	Santa Fe, Argentina	391,164	$1,075	51
101	Carapicuiba, Brazil	386,984	$783	38
102	Petrolina, Brazil	386,791	$736	35
103	Bauru, Brazil	379,146	$765	37
104	Caruaru, Brazil	377,911	$611	29
105	Vitoria da Conquista, Brazil	370,879	$825	39
106	Itaquaquecetuba, Brazil	369,275	$829	39
107	Buenaventura, Colombia	365,607	$1,391	66
108	Rio Branco, Brazil	364,756	$837	40
109	Blumenau - Santa Catarina, Brazil	361,261	$950	45
110	Ponta Grossa, Brazil	358,371	$655	31
111	Neiva, Colombia	357,392	$1,380	66
112	Cariacica, Brazil	353,491	$825	39
113	Olinda, Brazil	349,976	$827	40
114	Praia Grande, Brazil	349,935	$779	37
115	Antofagasta, Chile	348,517	$891	42
116	Cascavel, Brazil	348,051	$650	31
117	Canoas, Brazil	347,657	$775	37
118	Corrientes, Argentina	346,634	$1,275	61
119	Avellaneda, Argentina	342,677	$1,276	61
120	Paulista, Brazil	342,167	$740	35

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.