Cost of Living Comparison Between Altos and Encarnacion Cost of Living Comparison Between Altos and Encarnacion

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $239 in Altos versus $748 in Encarnacion.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $358 in Altos versus $1,046 in Encarnacion.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $477 in Altos versus $1,343 in Encarnacion.

Living in Altos costs roughly 68% less than in Encarnacion, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Altos 82% lower, Encarnacion 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.30 ₲20.8K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.53 ₲179.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.51 ₲28.4K

Cappuccino

$1.08 ₲6,801

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 ₲9,269

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₲3,117

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 ₲13.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₲12.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.49 ₲3,080

$0.82 ₲5,147

-40.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 ₲3,953

$0.47 ₲2,945

34.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₲6,395

$0.89 ₲5,584

14.61%

Eggs

$1.90 ₲11.9K

$1.65 ₲10.4K

15.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.97 ₲37.6K

$5.15 ₲32.4K

15.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 ₲21.7K

$3.31 ₲20.9K

3.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.60 ₲35.3K

$5.65 ₲35.6K

-0.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 ₲15.2K

$2.15 ₲13.5K

12.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 ₲8,294

$0.78 ₲4,931

69.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 ₲8,704

$0.92 ₲5,786

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 ₲11.0K

$1.66 ₲10.4K

5.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 ₲7,730

$0.87 ₲5,454

41.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 ₲10.2K

$0.86 ₲5,419

88.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₲7,456

$0.54 ₲3,431

118.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₲3,217

$0.57 ₲3,598

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.46 ₲9,178

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₲50.9K

$4.74 ₲29.8K

70.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₲4,518

$0.86 ₲5,389

-16.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₲5,176

$1.54 ₲9,685

-46.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ₲2,613

$0.49 ₲3,106

-16.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.07 ₲76.0K

$34.34 ₲216.3K

-64.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₲5,323

$1.31 ₲8,271

-35.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₲4,585

$0.71 ₲4,444

2.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.42 ₲40.4K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₲7,390

$0.94 ₲5,923

24.47%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.0K ₲119.8M

$13.8K ₲87.0M

37.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.1K ₲145.3M

$26.5K ₲167.0M

-12.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$34.51 ₲217.4K

$45.42 ₲286.0K

-24.02%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.90 ₲49.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.95 ₲87.8K

$16.79 ₲105.7K

-16.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.51 ₲173.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.93 ₲81.4K

Cinema Ticket

$3.56 ₲22.4K

$6.17 ₲38.9K

-42.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 ₲1.2M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,271 ₲20.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.16 ₲158.5K

$58.0 ₲365.4K

-56.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.45 ₲172.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.1 ₲422.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.2 ₲442.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₲2.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ₲1.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₲2.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 ₲1.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,521 ₲9.6M

$1,494 ₲9.4M

1.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,004 ₲6.3M

$1,098 ₲6.9M

-8.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ₲3.1M

$499 ₲3.1M

-0.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.5

5.26%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Altos: April 26, 2026

Last update for Encarnacion: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Encarnacion pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Altos vs Encarnacion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Altos is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out. The 213% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Encarnacion earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Encarnacion pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

A monthly transit pass in Altos runs roughly 185% less than in Encarnacion. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Altos gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Altos and Encarnacion are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Altos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 213% less than in Encarnacion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.