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	Luque, Paraguay	224,000	45
182	Palhoça, Brazil	222,598	42
183	Cabo Frio, Brazil	222,161	30
184	Cajamarca, Peru	218,741	32
185	Manta, Ecuador	217,553	31
186	Concepcion, Chile	217,537	51
187	Sao Leopoldo, Brazil	217,409	37
188	Criciuma, Brazil	214,493	35
189	Coro, Venezuela	211,266	29
190	Passo Fundo, Brazil	206,215	34
191	Talca, Chile	206,069	48
192	Acarigua, Venezuela	205,933	37
193	Envigado, Colombia	204,399	63
194	Coquimbo, Chile	204,068	50
195	San Luis, Argentina	204,019	47
196	Arica, Chile	202,131	50
197	Rio Claro, Brazil	201,418	37
198	Aracatuba, Brazil	200,124	39
199	Tunja, Colombia	200,000	61
200	Sinop, Brazil	196,312	41
201	La Serena, Chile	195,382	51
202	La Plata, Argentina	193,144	44
203	Castanhal, Brazil	192,256	39
204	Nova Friburgo, Brazil	189,939	27
205	Iquique, Chile	188,003	50
206	Jaragua do Sul, Brazil	182,660	41
207	Guarapuava, Brazil	182,093	35
208	Portoviejo, Ecuador	180,641	37
209	Loja, Ecuador	180,617	31
210	La Rioja, Argentina	180,219	54

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.