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
121	Uberaba, Brazil	337,836	$772	37
122	Vina del Mar, Chile	332,875	$1,060	51
123	Sao Vicente, Brazil	329,911	$819	39
124	Pelotas, Brazil	325,685	$699	33
125	Vitoria, Brazil	322,869	$976	47
126	Ciudad del Este, Paraguay	320,782	$793	38
127	Popayan, Colombia	318,059	$1,398	67
128	Armenia, Colombia	316,926	$1,182	57
129	Barueri, Brazil	316,473	$1,031	50
130	Trujillo, Peru	314,939	$865	41
131	Taubate, Brazil	310,739	$784	38
132	Georgetown, Guyana	310,320	$1,635	78
133	Suzano, Brazil	307,429	$785	38
134	Palmas, Brazil	302,692	$830	39
135	Bahia Blanca, Argentina	301,572	$1,331	64
136	Quevedo, Ecuador	300,000	$895	43
137	Limeira, Brazil	291,869	$754	36
138	San Bernardo, Chile	290,912	$895	43
139	Resistencia, Argentina	290,793	$1,209	58
140	Neuquen, Argentina	288,896	$1,261	61
141	Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil	285,415	$846	40
142	San Cristobal, Venezuela	282,830	$744	36
143	Petropolis, Brazil	278,881	$933	45
144	Sincelejo, Colombia	277,773	$1,371	65
145	Cotia, Brazil	274,413	$868	41
146	Imperatriz, Brazil	273,110	$854	40
147	Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela	272,231	$742	36
148	Santa Maria, Brazil	271,735	$730	35
149	Santo Domingo, Ecuador	270,875	$717	34
150	Gravataí, Brazil	265,074	$714	34

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.