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
241	Balneario Camboriu, Brazil	139,155	42
242	Varginha, Brazil	136,467	30
243	Cachoeirinha, Brazil	136,258	39
244	Bariloche, Argentina	135,755	60
245	Cartago, Colombia	135,365	40
246	Caraguatatuba, Brazil	134,873	37
247	Salto, Brazil	134,319	39
248	Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil	133,246	43
249	Três Lagoas, Brazil	132,152	37
250	Crato, Brazil	131,050	39
251	Araras, Brazil	130,866	42
252	Rionegro, Colombia	130,000	41
253	Encarnacion, Paraguay	127,600	38
254	Duitama, Colombia	126,670	36
255	Valinhos, Brazil	126,373	39
256	Barbacena, Brazil	125,317	35
257	Curico, Chile	125,275	48
258	Villa Alemana, Chile	125,140	27
259	Facatativá, Colombia	124,779	34
260	Tatuí, Brazil	123,942	39
261	Punta Arenas, Chile	123,403	66
262	Barretos, Brazil	122,485	37
263	San Rafael, Argentina	118,850	45
264	Bagé, Brazil	117,938	39
265	Santa Rosa, Argentina	116,083	48
266	Catanduva, Brazil	115,791	39
267	Paulo Afonso, Brazil	112,870	39
268	Coronel, Chile	112,057	54
269	Passos, Brazil	111,939	42
270	Araxa, Brazil	111,691	39

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.