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
211	Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina	177,038	48
212	Riobamba, Ecuador	170,000	28
213	Puerto Montt, Chile	169,736	55
214	Porto Seguro, Brazil	168,326	39
215	Itu, Brazil	168,240	34
216	Angra dos Reis, Brazil	167,434	42
217	Sao Caetano do Sul, Brazil	165,655	46
218	Pindamonhangaba, Brazil	165,428	39
219	Ambato, Ecuador	165,185	34
220	Francisco Morato, Brazil	165,139	41
221	Teresopolis, Brazil	165,123	35
222	Lages, Brazil	164,981	41
223	Chillan, Chile	164,270	52
224	Catamarca, Argentina	160,058	48
225	Barreiras, Brazil	159,734	39
226	Patos de Minas, Brazil	159,235	39
227	Atibaia, Brazil	158,647	38
228	Piura, Peru	158,495	31
229	Abaetetuba, Brazil	158,188	39
230	Itapetininga, Brazil	157,790	35
231	Calama, Chile	157,575	54
232	Rio das Ostras, Brazil	156,491	33
233	Pouso Alegre, Brazil	152,217	34
234	Valdivia, Chile	150,048	54
235	Concordia, Argentina	149,450	48
236	Talcahuano, Chile	147,831	54
237	Osorno, Chile	147,666	55
238	Botucatu, Brazil	145,155	34
239	Franco da Rocha, Brazil	144,849	41
240	Los Ángeles, Chile	143,023	54

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.