The world’s least expensive cities

2. Monterrey, Mexico

The capital of the Mexican state of Nuevo León, Monterrey is one of country’s most modern cities. Contemporary architecture, international cuisine and broadband Internet connections abound here.

Currency value change since 2008: 28% decrease.

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• Mexico tourism   (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

3. Asunción, Paraguay

Asunción is the Spanish word for “assumption,” referring to the Assumption of Mary, the belief in which the Virgin Mary was carried into heaven at the end of her life. Founded in 1537, it is one of the oldest cities in South America.

Currency value change since 2008: 23% decrease.

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• Asunción on Wikitravel  (Andres Cristaldo / EPA)

6. Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have harbors on two major bodies of water. It’s on New Zealand’s North Island, the largest urban area in the country with more than 30% of the country’s population.

Currency value change since 2008: 6% decrease.

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• Rolling and roaming in New Zealand by camper van  (Vani Rangachar / Los Angeles Times)

11. Bangalore, India

Bangalore is the third most populous city in India. Known as India’s Silicon Valley, it is home to leading research institutions and technology companies.

Currency value change since 2008: 12% decrease.

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• India Ministry of Tourism  (Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP / Getty Images)

12. San José, Costa Rica

San José, the capital, caters to a bustling tourist industry. Foreign visitors enjoy its lush green mountains and forests, which are ideal for taking canopy tours and volcano hikes and seeing exotic wildlife.

Currency value change since 2008: 5% decrease.

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• Costa Rica tourism  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

13. Montevideo, Uruguay

Montevideo, the capital, is the only city in the country with a population of more than 1 million. Punta del Este, the up-and-coming beach resort of the beautiful, is just about two hours east of Montevideo.

Currency value change since 2008: 22% decrease.

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• 29 spots for 2009: Punta Del Este
• Uruguay tourism  (Daniel Caselli / AFP / Getty Images)

14. Adelaide, Australia

Adelaide boasts a reputation for good food, wine and culture. Many festivals, such as the Cabaret Festival and Tasting Australia, are popular draws.

Currency value change since 2008: 6% decrease.

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• South Australia tourism  (Adam Bruzzone / South Australia Tourism Commission)

15. Glasgow, Scotland

Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow has transformed itself from an industrial powerhouse to one of Britain’s centers for tourism, culture and commerce. Its thriving music scene has produced bands such as Franz Ferdinand and Snow Patrol.

Currency value change since 2008: 13% decrease.

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• Glasgow tourism  (Jeff J. Mitchell / Getty Images)

16. Santiago, Chile

Santiago, Chile’s capital, is home to more than 5 million residents. It is one of the most modern and economically stable cities in Latin America. Many multinational companies, including Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Yahoo and Ford, have regional headquarters here.

Currency value change since 2008: 8% increase.

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• Santiago tourism  (Enrique Siqués / For The Times)

19. Birmingham, England

Birmingham, the second-largest city in England, has a population of more than 1 million. It is famous as the center of Britain’s industrial revolution. British author J.R.R. Tolkien spent part of his childhood here.

Currency value change since 2008: 13% decrease.

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• Visit Birmingham  (Lawrence Looi / EPA)

20. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan, often called just Bandar, is the capital of Brunei in Southeast Asia. The city is on the banks of the Brunei River and features unique water villages accessible by taxi boat.

Currency value change since 2008: 1% decrease.

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• Brunei on Wikitravel  (David Longstreath / Associated Press)