Cost of Living Comparison Between Asuncion and Altos Cost of Living Comparison Between Asuncion and Altos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,046 in Asuncion versus $244 in Altos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,627 in Asuncion versus $365 in Altos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,208 in Asuncion versus $486 in Altos.

Living in Asuncion is roughly 329% more expensive than in Altos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Asuncion 24% lower, Altos 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.94 ₲41.0K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.46 ₲244.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 ₲39.2K

Cappuccino

$3.21 ₲18.9K

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

$1.10 ₲6,501

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₲3,736

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 ₲11.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₲11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ₲7,176

$0.52 ₲3,099

134.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ₲8,359

$0.90 ₲5,325

57.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ₲7,843

$0.98 ₲5,810

35.71%

Eggs

$2.38 ₲14.1K

$1.91 ₲11.3K

24.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₲55.8K

$5.94 ₲35.1K

59.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.15 ₲30.4K

$3.42 ₲20.2K

50.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 ₲59.4K

$5.56 ₲32.8K

80.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 ₲16.7K

$2.37 ₲14.0K

19.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 ₲7,518

$1.33 ₲7,871

-4.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 ₲6,946

$1.44 ₲8,510

-18.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.39 ₲14.1K

$1.82 ₲10.8K

31.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ₲7,559

$1.19 ₲7,040

7.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 ₲7,762

$1.41 ₲8,302

-7.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₲5,308

$1.18 ₲6,987

-23.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₲4,046

$0.87 ₲5,132

-20.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 ₲13.5K

$0.94 ₲5,527

142.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.06 ₲53.5K

$8.24 ₲48.6K

9.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₲7,915

$0.72 ₲4,254

86.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₲9,917

$0.83 ₲4,906

102.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 ₲3,306

$0.41 ₲2,422

36.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.60 ₲222.0K

$12.15 ₲71.7K

209.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.40 ₲8,265

$1.68 ₲9,928

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 ₲8,757

$0.72 ₲4,230

105.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.01 ₲59.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₲6,848

$1.13 ₲6,690

2.65%

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

$17.1K ₲100.9M

$18.7K ₲110.2M

-8.47%

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

$33.9K ₲200.0M

$23.5K ₲138.8M

44.17%

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

$48.71 ₲287.6K

$34.83 ₲205.6K

39.85%

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

$16.82 ₲99.3K

$8.20 ₲48.4K

105.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.36 ₲126.1K

$13.87 ₲81.9K

54.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.51 ₲209.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 ₲85.7K

Cinema Ticket

$8.57 ₲50.6K

$3.40 ₲20.1K

152.06%

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

$180 ₲1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,747 ₲33.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 ₲361.0K

$24.74 ₲146.1K

147.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 ₲324.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 ₲608.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.3 ₲403.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$624 ₲3.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 ₲2.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 ₲6.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$635 ₲3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,715 ₲10.1M

$1,516 ₲8.9M

13.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 ₲7.2M

$1,006 ₲5.9M

21.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$713 ₲4.2M

$499 ₲2.9M

42.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.15

1.50%

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

Last update for Asuncion: September 6, 2026

Last update for Altos: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Asuncion pays 43% 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

Asuncion vs Altos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Altos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 329% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 43% higher in Asuncion, 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 35% higher in Asuncion. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

A monthly transit pass in Altos runs roughly 209% less than in Asuncion. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $244 in Altos versus $1,046 in Asuncion, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Altos but tight or insufficient in Asuncion. The gap between the two cities makes Altos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 329% less than in Asuncion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.