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
181	Cabo Frio, Brazil	222,161	42
182	Cajamarca, Peru	218,741	33
183	Manta, Ecuador	217,553	46
184	Concepcion, Chile	217,537	53
185	Sao Leopoldo, Brazil	217,409	37
186	Criciuma, Brazil	214,493	34
187	Coro, Venezuela	211,266	32
188	Passo Fundo, Brazil	206,215	34
189	Talca, Chile	206,069	51
190	Acarigua, Venezuela	205,933	36
191	Envigado, Colombia	204,399	40
192	Coquimbo, Chile	204,068	55
193	San Luis, Argentina	204,019	43
194	Arica, Chile	202,131	54
195	Rio Claro, Brazil	201,418	37
196	Aracatuba, Brazil	200,124	39
197	Tunja, Colombia	200,000	36
198	Sinop, Brazil	196,312	40
199	La Serena, Chile	195,382	53
200	La Plata, Argentina	193,144	44
201	Castanhal, Brazil	192,256	39
202	Nova Friburgo, Brazil	189,939	37
203	Iquique, Chile	188,003	52
204	Jaragua do Sul, Brazil	182,660	40
205	Guarapuava, Brazil	182,093	33
206	Portoviejo, Ecuador	180,641	46
207	Loja, Ecuador	180,617	37
208	La Rioja, Argentina	180,219	48
209	Ferraz de Vasconcelos, Brazil	179,198	39
210	Ilheus, Brazil	178,649	34

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.