Cost of Living Comparison Between Asuncion and Ciudad del Este Cost of Living Comparison Between Asuncion and Ciudad del Este

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Asuncion vs $815 in Ciudad del Este, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,603 per month in Asuncion vs $1,459 in Ciudad del Este, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,176 per month in Asuncion vs $2,102 in Ciudad del Este, rent included.

Asuncion costs about 26% more than Ciudad del Este, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Asuncion and Ciudad del Este are more affordable than the global median – Asuncion 25% lower, Ciudad del Este 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 ₲43.0K

$5.10 ₲30.0K

43.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.46 ₲249.9K

$20.05 ₲118.0K

111.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.72 ₲39.6K

$6.17 ₲36.3K

8.91%

Cappuccino

$3.28 ₲19.3K

$2.19 ₲12.9K

49.77%

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

$1.05 ₲6,181

$0.92 ₲5,397

14.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₲3,704

$0.60 ₲3,533

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 ₲12.0K

$1.03 ₲6,082

98.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ₲10.8K

$1.91 ₲11.3K

-3.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ₲7,351

$1.12 ₲6,572

11.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 ₲8,694

$1.42 ₲8,337

4.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 ₲7,639

$1.20 ₲7,048

8.33%

Eggs

$2.42 ₲14.2K

$2.22 ₲13.1K

9.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.59 ₲56.4K

$8.94 ₲52.6K

7.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 ₲31.1K

$3.64 ₲21.4K

45.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.66 ₲56.9K

$8.08 ₲47.6K

19.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 ₲16.9K

$1.97 ₲11.6K

45.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 ₲7,380

$1.27 ₲7,476

-1.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 ₲6,887

$0.92 ₲5,414

27.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.40 ₲14.1K

$1.19 ₲7,010

101.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 ₲7,994

$0.84 ₲4,972

61.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 ₲7,739

$0.97 ₲5,708

35.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 ₲5,250

$0.48 ₲2,807

85.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₲4,067

$0.41 ₲2,408

68.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 ₲13.8K

$1.37 ₲8,036

70.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.16 ₲53.9K

$5.02 ₲29.6K

82.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₲7,970

$0.77 ₲4,533

75.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₲10.2K

$1.74 ₲10.2K

-0.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 ₲3,470

$0.87 ₲5,099

-32.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.85 ₲216.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ₲8,730

$1.43 ₲8,393

3.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 ₲9,167

$1.51 ₲8,867

3.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.33 ₲60.8K

$10.08 ₲59.3K

2.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₲6,818

$1.11 ₲6,531

4.50%

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

$17.0K ₲100.3M

$16.9K ₲99.5M

0.76%

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

$34.9K ₲205.3M

$33.7K ₲198.5M

3.46%

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

$48.80 ₲287.2K

$48.25 ₲283.9K

1.14%

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

$16.86 ₲99.2K

$17.03 ₲100.2K

-1.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.77 ₲128.1K

$17.85 ₲105.0K

21.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.22 ₲213.2K

$29.30 ₲172.4K

23.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.80 ₲87.1K

$13.78 ₲81.1K

7.40%

Cinema Ticket

$8.24 ₲48.5K

$5.91 ₲34.8K

39.42%

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

$178 ₲1.0M

$184 ₲1.1M

-3.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,730 ₲33.7M

$1,852 ₲10.9M

209.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 ₲361.2K

$62.9 ₲370.3K

-2.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 ₲332.1K

$32.22 ₲189.6K

75.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₲613.5K

$94.0 ₲553.0K

10.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.9 ₲405.2K

$54.4 ₲320.1K

26.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$608 ₲3.6M

$425 ₲2.5M

42.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 ₲2.2M

$300 ₲1.8M

25.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 ₲6.0M

$755 ₲4.4M

35.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$635 ₲3.7M

$914 ₲5.4M

-30.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,766 ₲10.4M

$1,828 ₲10.8M

-3.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,220 ₲7.2M

$1,379 ₲8.1M

-11.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$711 ₲4.2M

$649 ₲3.8M

9.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.15

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

Last update for Asuncion: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ciudad del Este: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $608 in Asuncion versus $425 in Ciudad del Este. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Asuncion, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Asuncion versus $20.00 in Ciudad del Este. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $164 – making Ciudad del Este the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ciudad del Este: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Asuncion is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,545 per month in Asuncion and $1,222 in Ciudad del Este. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ciudad del Este, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Asuncion and $815 in Ciudad del Este. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $178 per month in Asuncion and $184 in Ciudad del Este. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ciudad del Este, where all-in costs run around $815, than in Asuncion at $1,030. In Ciudad del Este it covers expenses comfortably, while in Asuncion it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ciudad del Este – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ciudad del Este. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Asuncion makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.