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
151	Valparaiso, Chile	251,177	58
152	Embu das Artes, Brazil	250,691	40
153	Merida, Venezuela	250,303	36
154	Parana, Argentina	247,863	43
155	Macaé, Brazil	246,391	41
156	Rondonópolis, Brazil	244,911	39
157	Chapeco, Brazil	243,477	41
158	Dourados, Brazil	243,367	39
159	Paramaribo, Suriname	242,946	50
160	Araraquara, Brazil	242,228	31
161	Jacareí, Brazil	240,275	40
162	Sucre, Bolivia	238,798	41
163	Juazeiro, Brazil	237,821	39
164	Marilia, Brazil	237,627	39
165	Americana, Brazil	237,240	39
166	Temuco, Chile	235,509	60
167	Arapiraca, Brazil	234,696	40
168	Formosa, Argentina	234,354	48
169	Itapevi, Brazil	232,297	41
170	Rancagua, Chile	231,370	49
171	Machala, Ecuador	231,260	32
172	San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina	231,229	45
173	Quilmes, Argentina	230,810	45
174	Ipatinga, Brazil	227,731	35
175	Novo Hamburgo, Brazil	227,646	35
176	Sete Lagoas, Brazil	227,397	31
177	Rio Verde, Brazil	225,696	40
178	Presidente Prudente, Brazil	225,668	37
179	Luque, Paraguay	224,000	20
180	Palhoça, Brazil	222,598	40

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: February 24, 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.