★ Best places to live
Cheapest cities to live 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 30 cities we track in the region. Guadalajara leads with 53, ahead of Monterrey and Mexico City.
RankCost index
- 1GuadalajaraMexico53
- 2MonterreyMexico62
- 3Mexico CityMexico64
- 4San AntonioUnited States94
- 5ColumbusUnited States94
- 6CharlotteUnited States97
- 7Las VegasUnited States97
- 8AustinUnited States98
- 9NashvilleUnited States98
- 10DetroitUnited States98
- 11MontrealCanada99
- 12HoustonUnited States100
- 13AtlantaUnited States101
- 14ChicagoUnited States103
- 15DallasUnited States103
- 16PhiladelphiaUnited States104
- 17MinneapolisUnited States104
- 18DenverUnited States106
- 19PhoenixUnited States106
- 20PortlandUnited States107
- 21WashingtonUnited States108
- 22BostonUnited States111
- 23San DiegoUnited States112
- 24MiamiUnited States112
- 25New YorkUnited States113
- 26SeattleUnited States113
- 27Los AngelesUnited States115
- 28San FranciscoUnited States118
- 29TorontoCanada119
- 30VancouverCanada124
? Frequently asked questions
Which cities top this ranking?
Guadalajara leads at 53, followed by Monterrey and Mexico City. The full ranking of 30 cities is listed above.
How is this ranking calculated?
We sort all 30 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.