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	Sao Carlos, Brazil	254,857	44
152	Santiago del Estero, Argentina	252,192	54
153	Valparaiso, Chile	251,177	54
154	Embu das Artes, Brazil	250,691	41
155	Merida, Venezuela	250,303	37
156	Parana, Argentina	247,863	48
157	Macaé, Brazil	246,391	40
158	Rondonópolis, Brazil	244,911	40
159	Chapeco, Brazil	243,477	47
160	Dourados, Brazil	243,367	39
161	Paramaribo, Suriname	242,946	49
162	Araraquara, Brazil	242,228	30
163	Jacareí, Brazil	240,275	39
164	Sucre, Bolivia	238,798	31
165	Juazeiro, Brazil	237,821	39
166	Marilia, Brazil	237,627	39
167	Americana, Brazil	237,240	39
168	Temuco, Chile	235,509	53
169	Arapiraca, Brazil	234,696	40
170	Formosa, Argentina	234,354	54
171	Itapevi, Brazil	232,297	41
172	Rancagua, Chile	231,370	46
173	Machala, Ecuador	231,260	29
174	San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina	231,229	55
175	Quilmes, Argentina	230,810	44
176	Ipatinga, Brazil	227,731	31
177	Novo Hamburgo, Brazil	227,646	34
178	Sete Lagoas, Brazil	227,397	30
179	Rio Verde, Brazil	225,696	39
180	Presidente Prudente, Brazil	225,668	36

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.