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
91	Boa Vista, Brazil	413,486	35
92	Maringa, Brazil	409,657	37
93	Villavicencio, Colombia	407,977	35
94	El Alto, Bolivia	405,492	14
95	Anapolis, Brazil	398,869	31
96	Diadema, Brazil	393,237	28
97	Pasto, Colombia	392,930	37
98	San Juan de Pasto, Colombia	392,930	56
99	Carapicuiba, Brazil	386,984	37
100	Petrolina, Brazil	386,791	35
101	Bauru, Brazil	379,146	38
102	Caruaru, Brazil	377,911	30
103	Vitoria da Conquista, Brazil	370,879	39
104	Itaquaquecetuba, Brazil	369,275	39
105	Buenaventura, Colombia	365,607	61
106	Rio Branco, Brazil	364,756	36
107	Ponta Grossa, Brazil	358,371	31
108	Cariacica, Brazil	353,491	38
109	Olinda, Brazil	349,976	39
110	Praia Grande, Brazil	349,935	38
111	Antofagasta, Chile	348,517	44
112	Cascavel, Brazil	348,051	31
113	Canoas, Brazil	347,657	36
114	Corrientes, Argentina	346,634	54
115	Avellaneda, Argentina	342,677	54
116	Paulista, Brazil	342,167	34
117	Uberaba, Brazil	337,836	40
118	Vina del Mar, Chile	332,875	52
119	Sao Vicente, Brazil	329,911	39
120	Pelotas, Brazil	325,685	33

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.