Cost of Living Comparison Between Altos and Luque Cost of Living Comparison Between Altos and Luque

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $244 in Altos versus $994 in Luque.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $365 in Altos versus $1,503 in Luque.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $486 in Altos versus $2,012 in Luque.

Living in Altos costs roughly 75% less than in Luque, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Altos 82% lower, Luque 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 ₲24.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.65 ₲198.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 ₲29.9K

Cappuccino

$3.27 ₲19.3K

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

$1.10 ₲6,474

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₲3,673

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 ₲11.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ₲11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.52 ₲3,099

$1.22 ₲7,200

-57.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₲5,325

$1.49 ₲8,784

-39.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₲5,810

$1.28 ₲7,571

-23.44%

Eggs

$1.91 ₲11.3K

$2.00 ₲11.8K

-4.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.94 ₲35.1K

$9.45 ₲55.8K

-37.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ₲20.2K

$5.23 ₲30.9K

-34.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.56 ₲32.8K

$9.67 ₲57.1K

-42.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ₲14.0K

$2.90 ₲17.1K

-18.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 ₲7,871

$1.26 ₲7,452

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 ₲8,510

$1.18 ₲6,971

22.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₲10.8K

$2.38 ₲14.0K

-23.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 ₲7,040

$1.30 ₲7,699

-8.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 ₲8,302

$1.26 ₲7,429

11.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₲6,987

$0.86 ₲5,070

37.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₲5,132

$0.73 ₲4,301

19.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.94 ₲5,527

$2.31 ₲13.7K

-59.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.24 ₲48.6K

$8.85 ₲52.2K

-6.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₲4,254

$1.29 ₲7,641

-44.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₲4,906

$1.65 ₲9,752

-49.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ₲2,422

$0.66 ₲3,886

-37.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₲71.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 ₲9,928

$1.46 ₲8,641

15.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ₲4,230

$1.54 ₲9,070

-53.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.27 ₲60.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₲6,690

$1.15 ₲6,759

-1.74%

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

$18.7K ₲110.2M

$16.8K ₲99.4M

10.86%

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

$23.5K ₲138.8M

$34.6K ₲204.1M

-32.02%

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

$34.83 ₲205.6K

$25.59 ₲151.1K

36.11%

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

$8.20 ₲48.4K

$17.02 ₲100.5K

-51.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.87 ₲81.9K

$20.08 ₲118.6K

-30.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.76 ₲252.4K

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 ₲20.1K

$8.35 ₲49.3K

-59.28%

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

$181 ₲1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,812 ₲28.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.74 ₲146.1K

$62.2 ₲367.4K

-60.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 ₲330.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 ₲623.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.9 ₲406.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ₲2.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$422 ₲2.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,490 ₲8.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 ₲3.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,516 ₲8.9M

$1,194 ₲7.0M

26.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,006 ₲5.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$499 ₲2.9M

$473 ₲2.8M

5.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.15

-1.48%

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

Last update for Altos: September 6, 2026

Last update for Luque: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Altos pays 5% 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 Luque: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Altos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out. The 307% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Altos, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Luque. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $244 per month in Altos versus $994 in Luque – a 307% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

Expats usually find Altos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 307% less than in Luque. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.