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	Vina del Mar, Chile	332,875	$1,048	50
122	Sao Vicente, Brazil	329,911	$804	38
123	Pelotas, Brazil	325,685	$688	33
124	Vitoria, Brazil	322,869	$976	47
125	Ciudad del Este, Paraguay	320,782	$755	36
126	Popayan, Colombia	318,059	$1,304	66
127	Armenia, Colombia	316,926	$1,182	56
128	Barueri, Brazil	316,473	$1,025	49
129	Trujillo, Peru	314,939	$870	42
130	Taubate, Brazil	310,739	$765	37
131	Georgetown, Guyana	310,320	$1,645	79
132	Suzano, Brazil	307,429	$801	38
133	Palmas, Brazil	302,692	$816	39
134	Bahia Blanca, Argentina	301,572	$1,335	64
135	Quevedo, Ecuador	300,000	$916	43
136	Limeira, Brazil	291,869	$741	35
137	San Bernardo, Chile	290,912	$914	44
138	Resistencia, Argentina	290,793	$1,220	58
139	Neuquen, Argentina	288,896	$1,172	58
140	Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil	285,415	$840	40
141	San Cristobal, Venezuela	282,830	$743	36
142	Petropolis, Brazil	278,881	$919	44
143	Sincelejo, Colombia	277,773	$1,404	64
144	Cotia, Brazil	274,413	$873	41
145	Imperatriz, Brazil	273,110	$827	39
146	Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela	272,231	$744	36
147	Santa Maria, Brazil	271,735	$694	33
148	Santo Domingo, Ecuador	270,875	$712	34
149	Gravataí, Brazil	265,074	$700	34
150	Itajai, Brazil	264,054	$894	43

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.