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: $236 in Altos versus $745 in Encarnacion.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $363 in Altos versus $1,040 in Encarnacion.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $489 in Altos versus $1,335 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

$3.45 ₲20.5K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.66 ₲170.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 ₲27.4K

Cappuccino

$1.04 ₲6,145

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

$1.47 ₲8,724

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₲3,188

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₲13.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₲12.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.51 ₲3,027

$0.83 ₲4,935

-38.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 ₲3,489

$0.46 ₲2,744

28.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₲5,760

$0.87 ₲5,145

11.49%

Eggs

$1.96 ₲11.7K

$1.68 ₲9,986

16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.94 ₲35.2K

$5.34 ₲31.7K

11.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.59 ₲21.3K

$3.32 ₲19.7K

8.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.63 ₲33.4K

$5.43 ₲32.2K

3.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 ₲14.0K

$2.13 ₲12.6K

10.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 ₲7,864

$0.84 ₲4,981

58.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 ₲8,427

$0.87 ₲5,141

63.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 ₲10.6K

$1.66 ₲9,863

7.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 ₲7,279

$0.84 ₲5,003

46.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 ₲9,577

$0.91 ₲5,408

76.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 ₲7,217

$0.59 ₲3,499

106.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₲3,062

$0.54 ₲3,189

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.52 ₲9,044

Wine (Bottle)

$7.87 ₲46.7K

$5.41 ₲32.1K

45.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₲4,035

$0.81 ₲4,826

-16.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₲4,639

$1.52 ₲8,995

-48.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₲2,303

$0.46 ₲2,719

-15.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.93 ₲70.8K

$34.74 ₲206.1K

-65.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₲4,688

$1.33 ₲7,918

-40.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₲3,972

$0.65 ₲3,838

3.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.45 ₲38.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₲6,949

$1.02 ₲6,037

14.71%

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

$19.2K ₲113.8M

$13.8K ₲81.7M

39.33%

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

$23.3K ₲138.0M

$26.3K ₲155.9M

-11.50%

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

$34.36 ₲203.8K

$45.41 ₲269.3K

-24.33%

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

$7.83 ₲46.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.06 ₲83.4K

$16.72 ₲99.2K

-15.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.78 ₲158.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.02 ₲77.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.49 ₲20.7K

$5.94 ₲35.2K

-41.25%

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

$201 ₲1.2M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,319 ₲19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.06 ₲148.7K

$55.9 ₲331.6K

-55.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.37 ₲168.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.4 ₲405.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.6 ₲406.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₲2.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₲1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 ₲2.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 ₲1.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,487 ₲8.8M

$1,522 ₲9.0M

-2.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$992 ₲5.9M

$1,061 ₲6.3M

-6.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ₲2.9M

$306 ₲1.8M

61.28%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Encarnacion: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Altos pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 215% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 61% higher in Altos, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

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 191% 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 215% less than in Encarnacion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.