★ Best places to live
Cheapest cities to live in in North America
The most affordable cities in our index, ranked by overall cost of living (US average = 100). Lower is cheaper.
The Cheapest cities to live in in North America, ranked by Cost index across 29 cities we track in the region. Guadalajara leads with 53, ahead of Mexico City and San Antonio.
RankCost index
- 1GuadalajaraMexico53
- 2Mexico CityMexico64
- 3San AntonioUnited States94
- 4ColumbusUnited States94
- 5CharlotteUnited States97
- 6Las VegasUnited States97
- 7AustinUnited States98
- 8NashvilleUnited States98
- 9DetroitUnited States98
- 10MontrealCanada99
- 11HoustonUnited States100
- 12AtlantaUnited States101
- 13ChicagoUnited States103
- 14DallasUnited States103
- 15PhiladelphiaUnited States104
- 16MinneapolisUnited States104
- 17DenverUnited States106
- 18PhoenixUnited States106
- 19PortlandUnited States107
- 20WashingtonUnited States108
- 21BostonUnited States111
- 22San DiegoUnited States112
- 23MiamiUnited States112
- 24New YorkUnited States113
- 25SeattleUnited States113
- 26Los AngelesUnited States115
- 27San FranciscoUnited States118
- 28TorontoCanada119
- 29VancouverCanada124
? Frequently asked questions
Which cities top this ranking?
Guadalajara leads at 53, followed by Mexico City and San Antonio. The full ranking of 29 cities is listed above.
How is this ranking calculated?
We sort all 29 cities in our index by Cost index. Figures are calibrated estimates, refreshed as we expand coverage — a practical guide, not official statistics.
Can I compare these cities in detail?
Yes. Open any city for its cost of living, rent, taxes, visas and quality of life, or use CostTrek’s side-by-side comparison to weigh two cities against each other.